The Texas Administrative Code, Section 74.27, Innovative Courses and Programs, allows districts to offer state-approved innovative courses to enable students to master knowledge, skills, and competencies not included in the essential knowledge and skills of the required curriculum. The State Board of Education (SBOE) may approve any course that does not fall within any of the subject areas listed in the foundation and enrichment curricula and the commissioner of education may approve a discipline-based course in the foundation or enrichment curriculum if the proposed course is academically rigorous and addresses documented student needs. Applications for innovative courses are accepted annually by the Texas Education Agency.
Announcements
Innovative Course Applications
Applications for new innovative courses and for renewal of expiring innovative courses are now being accepted. Please contact the Curriculum Division at curriculum@tea.state.tx.us to request an application. Applications are due by November 30, 2012.
2012-2013 Expiring Courses
A list of all courses that have expired or will expire at the end of the 2012-2013 school year is now available. For questions related to an expiring innovative course, please email Deb Gonzales, Program Coordinator, at debbie.gonzales@tea.state.tx.us. For questions related other expiring courses, please email the Curriculum Division at curriculum@tea.state.tx.us.
Expiring Course List
Currently Approved Innovative Courses
With the approval of the local board of trustees, school districts and charter schools may offer any state-approved innovative course for state elective credit. No application is required for a district or school to offer one of these courses.
For complete listings of approved innovative courses, please refer to the links below. You may request course descriptions and requirements for each course from the contact person identified for each course.
Career and Technical Education (CTE) Innovative Courses
Foundation and Enrichment Innovative Courses
Innovative Courses from Organizations Other Than School Districts
Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Innovative Courses
Other Innovative Courses
For a complete listing of all currently approved innovative courses, download the PDF document (PDF, 330 KB).
Innovative Course Application and Instructions
Please note that the application deadline for new innovative courses for the 2012-2013 school year has passed. Check back in summer 2012 for information regarding applications for the 2013-2014 school year.
A school district may develop additional innovative courses to enable students to master knowledge, skills, and competencies in courses for which there are no essential knowledge and skills. Before you decide to apply for new innovative course approval, please review the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) to be sure that an innovative course is needed. You may find that one of the TEKS-based courses adopted by the SBOE or one of the currently-approved innovative courses will meet your needs. Courses that overlap significantly with a TEKS-based course or a currently-approved innovative courses will not be approved. When ready to submit your application, please attach evidence of local board approval as well as any other pertinent documents. TEA staff will review and contact you regarding your application. Applications may be requested by sending an email to the Curriculum Division and specifying “innovative course application” in the subject line.
Innovative Course Training Presentation
Request the Instructional Presentation for Innovative Courses by email.
Contacts
Deb Gonzales
debbie.gonzales@tea.state.tx.us
Texas Education Agency
1701 North Congress Avenue
Austin, TX 78701-1401
Phone: (512) 463-9581
Curriculum Division
curriculum@tea.state.tx.us
(512) 463-9581