Proposed Revisions to 19 TAC Chapter 112, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Science,
Subchapter D, Other Science Courses
(First Reading and Filing Authorization)
March 12, 2010
COMMITTEE ON INSTRUCTION: ACTION
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: ACTION
SUMMARY: This item presents for first reading and filing authorization proposed revisions to 19 TAC Chapter 112, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Science, Subchapter D, Other Science Courses. The proposed revisions would add new Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses to the list of courses that count for high school science credit. The proposed revisions would also include minor modifications to the Principles of Technology course that may satisfy the physics graduation requirement to align with end-of-course assessment requirements.
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Texas Education Code (TEC), §§7.102(c)(4), 28.002, 28.025, and 39.025.
EFFECTIVE DATE: The proposed effective date of the proposed revisions to 19 TAC Chapter 112, Subchapter D, is 20 days after filing as adopted with the Texas Register. Under TEC, §7.102(f), the State Board of Education (SBOE) must approve the rule action at second reading and final adoption by a vote of two-thirds of its members to specify an effective date earlier than the beginning of the 2010-2011 school year. The earlier effective date will allow districts to begin preparing for implementation.
PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION: The SBOE adopted the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for elementary, middle, and high school science courses to be effective September 1, 1998. Revisions to the science TEKS were adopted by the SBOE to be effective August 4, 2009. The SBOE adopted new TEKS for secondary CTE to be effective August 23, 2010. The SBOE approved amendments to 19 TAC Chapter 74, Subchapter F, Graduation Requirements, Beginning with School Year 2007-2008, in January 2010.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND SIGNIFICANT ISSUES: In January 2010, the SBOE approved for second reading and final adoption amendments to the graduation requirements in 19 TAC Chapter 74, Subchapter F, that allow Advanced Animal Science, Advanced Biotechnology, Advanced Plant and Soil Science, Food Science, and Forensic Science to count for the fourth science credit under the Recommended High School Program and the Distinguished Achievement Program.
The proposed revisions to 19 TAC Chapter 112, Subchapter D, would add proposed new 19 TAC §112.72, Other Courses for Which Students May Receive Science Credit, to include the new CTE courses that count for science credit. The proposed new rule would also include technical edits to update the provisions. Current 19 TAC §112.71 would be superseded by proposed new 19 TAC §112.71, and, therefore, recommended for repeal.
In addition, due to requirements for end-of-course assessments for physics, minor modifications are needed to the TEKS for the new CTE Principles of Technology course. The proposed revisions to 19 TAC Chapter 112, Subchapter D, would add new 19 TAC §112.71, Principles of Technology (One Physics Credit), to include the modified TEKS for Principles of Technology that would count for physics credit.
FISCAL IMPACT: The Texas Education Agency has determined that there are no additional costs to persons or entities required to comply with the proposed rule actions. In addition, 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 added flexibility for students regardless of the high school graduation program they select.
PROCEDURAL AND REPORTING IMPLICATIONS: The proposed revisions would have no new procedural and reporting implications.
LOCALLY MAINTAINED PAPERWORK REQUIREMENTS: The proposed revisions would have no new locally maintained paperwork requirements.
PUBLIC COMMENTS: 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 request for a public hearing on the proposal submitted under the Administrative Procedure Act must be received by the commissioner of education not more than 14 calendar days after notice of the proposal has been published in the Texas Register.
COMMISSIONER'S RECOMMENDATION: I recommend that the State Board of Education:
Approve for first reading and filing authorization proposed revisions to 19 TAC Chapter 112, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Science, Subchapter D, Other Science Courses.
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 112, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Science, Subchapter D, Other Science Courses