Proposed Revisions to 19 TAC Chapter 113, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Social
Studies, Subchapter A, Elementary, Subchapter B, Middle School, and Subchapter C, High School,
and 19 TAC Chapter 118, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Economics with Emphasis on
the Free Enterprise System and Its Benefits, Subchapter A, High School
(First Reading and Filing Authorization)
March 12, 2010
COMMITTEE OF THE FULL BOARD: ACTION
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: ACTION
SUMMARY: This item presents for first reading and filing authorization proposed revisions to 19 TAC Chapter 113, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Social Studies, Subchapter A, Elementary, Subchapter B, Middle School, and Subchapter C, High School. This item also presents for first reading and filing authorization proposed revisions to 19 TAC Chapter 118, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Economics with Emphasis on the Free Enterprise System and Its Benefits, Subchapter A, High School. The proposed rule actions recommend an implementation date of the 2011-2012 school year for the revised social studies and economics Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS).
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Texas Education Code (TEC), §§7.102(c)(4), 28.002, 28.008, and 28.025.
EFFECTIVE DATE: The proposed effective date of the proposed revisions to 19 TAC Chapter 113, Subchapters A-C, and 19 TAC Chapter 118, Subchapter A, is the beginning of the 2010-2011 school year. This effective date will allow districts to begin preparing for implementation in the 2011-2012 school year.
PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION: The SBOE adopted the TEKS for social studies and economics to be effective September 1, 1998. The SBOE 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. A discussion item regarding proposed revisions to 19 TAC Chapter 113, Subchapters A-C, and 19 TAC Chapter 118, Subchapter A, was presented to the Committee of the Full Board during the November 2009 meeting. Proposed revisions to social studies and economics TEKS were presented for first reading and filing authorization at the January 2010 SBOE meeting. At that time, the Committee of the Full Board postponed action on the revisions until the March 2010 meeting.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND SIGNIFICANT ISSUES: In January and February 2009, committees were convened to review the social studies and economics TEKS. 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 Committee of the Full Board regarding adjustments to the process approved by the SBOE in July 2008, and provide guidance to Texas Education Agency (TEA) staff and social studies and economics TEKS review committees regarding next steps in the review of the social studies and economics TEKS. Information from the April Committee on Instruction meeting was discussed by the board at the May meeting. In June 2009, six expert reviewers appointed by the SBOE reviewed the current social studies and economics TEKS and submitted feedback to the SBOE.
In July 2009, committees were convened to complete initial drafts of recommended revisions to the social studies and economics TEKS. Initial drafts of the recommendations for revisions to the social studies and economics TEKS were posted on the TEA website for informal feedback. Initial drafts were also reviewed by the six expert reviewers. During the September 2009 meeting, expert reviewers and representatives from the TEKS review committees provided invited testimony.
The social studies and economics TEKS review committees met again in October 2009 to review feedback and complete recommendations for revisions to the social studies and economics TEKS. The recommendations from the review committees were presented to the Committee of the Full Board during a discussion item at the November 2009 meeting. The proposed revisions were presented for first reading and filing authorization at the January 2010 meeting, and a public hearing on the proposed revisions was held at that time. The Committee of the Full Board postponed action on the proposed revisions until the March 2010 SBOE meeting.
Attachment II reflects the text of the proposed revisions to 19 TAC Chapter 113, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Social Studies, Subchapter A, Elementary, Subchapter B, Middle School, and Subchapter C, High School, including amendments made by the SBOE at the January 2010 meeting, for consideration by the SBOE for first reading and filing authorization. The text of the proposed revisions to 19 TAC Chapter 118, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Economics with Emphasis on the Free Enterprise System and Its Benefits, Subchapter A, High School, is reflected in Attachment III.
FISCAL IMPACT: There will be costs associated with this process for the TEA to review and revise the social studies and economics TEKS. There are also implications for the TEA for the development and implementation of professional development to help teachers and administrators understand the revised social studies and economics TEKS. For fiscal year (FY) 2010, the estimated cost to the TEA for reviewing and revising the TEKS is $54,300. The estimated cost for professional development is $4 million for FY 2011 and $500,000 for FYs 2012-2014.
There are anticipated fiscal implications for school districts and charter schools to implement the revised TEKS, which may include the need for professional development and revisions to district-developed databases, curriculum, and scope and sequence documents. Since curriculum and instruction decisions are made at the local district level, it is difficult to estimate the fiscal impact on any given district.
The TEA has determined that there is no direct adverse economic impact for small businesses or microbusinesses; therefore, no regulatory flexibility analysis, specified in Texas Government Code, §2006.002, is required.
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: The proposed revisions would have no new procedural and reporting requirements.
LOCALLY MAINTAINED PAPERWORK REQUIREMENTS: The proposed revisions would have no new locally maintained paperwork requirements.
PUBLIC COMMENTS: Numerous comments have been received from stakeholders. However, the official public comment period will begin when the revisions are published as proposed in the Texas Register.
ALTERNATIVES: None.
OTHER COMMENTS AND RELATED ISSUES: A public hearing regarding proposed revisions to
19 TAC Chapter 113, Subchapters A-C, and 19 TAC Chapter 118, Subchapter A, was conducted in January 2010. Another public hearing will be scheduled when the proposal is presented for second reading and final adoption.
COMMISSIONER'S RECOMMENDATION: I recommend that the State Board of Education:
Approve for first reading and filing authorization proposed revisions to 19 TAC Chapter 113, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Social Studies, Subchapter A, Elementary, Subchapter B, Middle School, and Subchapter C, High School; and
Approve for first reading and filing authorization proposed revisions to 19 TAC Chapter 118, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Economics with Emphasis on the Free Enterprise System and Its Benefits, Subchapter A, High School.
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
Monica Martinez, Managing Director
Curriculum
Attachments:
I. Statutory Citations
II. Text of Proposed Revisions to 19 TAC Chapter 113, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Social Studies, Subchapter A, Elementary, Subchapter B, Middle School, and Subchapter C, High School
III. Text of Proposed Revisions to 19 TAC Chapter 118, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Economics with Emphasis on the Free Enterprise System and Its Benefits, Subchapter A, High School