Proposed Approval of Updates to the Texas State Plan for the Education of Gifted/Talented Students
September 18, 2009
COMMITTEE ON INSTRUCTION: ACTION
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: ACTION
SUMMARY: This item recommends approval of updated language in the Texas State Plan for the Education of Gifted/Talented Students (State Plan). Updates would ensure that the State Plan continues to be in alignment with the Texas Education Code (TEC).
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: TEC, §29.123.
PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION: The SBOE took action to approve the current State Plan at the November 1996 meeting. In July 2009 the board postponed action on the updates to the State Plan until the September 2009 meeting.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND SIGNIFICANT ISSUES: The last time the State Plan was significantly updated was in 1996. The current version was printed in 2000 and contained only minor edits to the 1996 version.
The plan currently states that services for gifted/talented students are assessed through the Texas Education Agency’s District Effectiveness and Compliance system. Due to the passage of House Bill (HB) 3459, 78th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2003, this is no longer accurate. Currently TEC, §7.028, places the responsibility for compliance monitoring with the local school boards of trustees.
In addition to this change, the Commissioner’s Advisory Council for the Education of Gifted/Talented Students (CAC) has recommended updates to the State Plan in order to align language to current general usage and to create stylistic consistency. No new requirements for districts regarding gifted/talented services are recommended.
During the July 2009 meeting, members of the Committee on Instruction requested additional time to review proposed changes. The CAC invited members of the SBOE to attend a meeting scheduled for Wednesday, August 13, 2009 to provide an opportunity for CAC members to answer questions, share rationale for the recommendations that have been made, and gather input from members of the SBOE.
FISCAL IMPACT: None.
PUBLIC AND STUDENT BENEFIT: Districts will have an accurate set of requirements for compliance with state law and board rule regarding gifted/talented services.
PROCEDURAL AND REPORTING IMPLICATIONS: None.
PUBLIC COMMENTS: None.
ALTERNATIVES: None.
OTHER COMMENTS AND RELATED ISSUES: None.
COMMISSIONER'S RECOMMENDATION: I recommend that the State Board of Education:
Approve the updated Texas State Plan for the Education of Gifted/Talented Students as presented.
Respectfully submitted,
Robert Scott
Commissioner of Education
Staff Members Responsible: Anita Givens, Associate Commissioner
Standards and Programs
Norma Torres-Martinez, Deputy Associate Commissioner
Standards and Alignment
Karen Batchelor, Acting Managing Director
Curriculum
Attachments: I. Statutory Citation
II. Texas State Plan for the Education of Gifted/Talented Students,Revised September 2009