Update on Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) Review
September 18, 2009
COMMITTEE OF THE FULL BOARD: ACTION
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: ACTION
SUMMARY: This item provides the opportunity for staff to present an update on the review of Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) and for the board to provide guidance regarding the TEKS review process.
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Texas Education Code (TEC), §§7.102(c)(4), 28.002, and 28.025.
PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION: The State Board of Education (SBOE) adopted the TEKS for all subjects to be effective September 1, 1998. The mathematics TEKS were amended to be effective August 1, 2006. The English language arts and reading TEKS were amended to be effective September 4, 2008. The Spanish language arts and reading TEKS were amended to be effective November 26, 2008. The secondary mathematics TEKS were amended to be effective February 22, 2009. The science TEKS were amended to be effective August 4, 2009. The career and technical education (CTE) TEKS were amended by the SBOE in July 2009 but are not yet effective.
The board took action at the May 2009 meeting to approve a revised process for review and revision of the TEKS, guidelines for the social studies TEKS review committees, and guidelines for the social studies expert reviewers.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND SIGNIFICANT ISSUES: In January, February, May, September, October, and December 2008, committees were convened to review the science TEKS. In April, May, September, October, and December 2008, committees were convened to develop TEKS for new earth and space science and engineering courses. In April, June, August, and October 2008, and January and April 2009, committees were convened to review all CTE TEKS. In January, February, and July 2009, committees were convened to review the social studies TEKS. The social studies TEKS review committees are scheduled to meet again in October 2009. In February, April and July 2009, committees were convened to begin review of the English language arts and reading electives TEKS. The English language arts and reading electives TEKS review committees are scheduled to meet again in fall 2009.
On April 22, 2009, the Committee on Instruction held a work session to study the process for review of the TEKS, make recommendations to the full board regarding adjustments to the process approved by the SBOE in July 2008, and provide guidance to agency staff and social studies TEKS review committees regarding next steps in the review of the social studies TEKS. Information from the April Committee on Instruction meeting was discussed by the board at the May meeting.
The board took action at the May 2009 meeting to approve a revised process for review and revision of the TEKS, guidelines for the social studies TEKS review committees, and guidelines for the social studies expert reviewers.
FISCAL IMPACT: There will be normal business costs associated with this process for the agency, including staff and committee travel, meeting accommodations, and production and dissemination of documents.
PUBLIC AND STUDENT BENEFIT: Benefits include better alignment of the TEKS and coordination of the standards with the adoption of instructional materials.
PROCEDURAL AND REPORTING IMPLICATIONS: None.
PUBLIC COMMENTS: None.
ALTERNATIVES: None.
OTHER COMMENTS AND RELATED ISSUES: None.
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
Attachment: Statutory Citations