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February 2015 Committee of the Full Board Item 7

Discussion of Proposed Amendments to 19 TAC Chapter 74, Curriculum Requirements, Subchapter G, Graduation Requirements, Beginning with School Year 2012-2013

February 11, 2015

COMMITTEE OF THE FULL BOARD: DISCUSSION
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: NO ACTION

SUMMARY:
This item provides an opportunity for the committee to discuss proposed amendments to 19 TAC Chapter 74, Curriculum Requirements, Subchapter G, Graduation Requirements, Beginning with School Year 2012-2013, in order to revise course options for students to satisfy the mathematics requirement under the Minimum High School Program, Recommended High School Program, and Distinguished Achievement Program.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Texas Education Code (TEC), §§7.102(c)(4), 28.002, and 28.025.

BOARD RESPONSE: This item is presented for review and comment.

PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION: The State Board of Education (SBOE) adopted rules in 19 TAC Chapter 74, Subchapter F, Graduation Requirements, Beginning with School Year 2007-2008, effective September 1, 2005. Amendments to this subchapter were adopted effective January 9, 2007; December 25, 2007; and August 23, 2010. The SBOE adopted rules in 19 TAC Chapter 74, Subchapter G, Graduation Requirements, Beginning with School Year 2012-2013, effective May 30, 2012.

At the July 2013 meeting, the SBOE approved proposed amendments to 19 TAC Chapter 74, Subchapters F and G, for second reading and final adoption, as amended, effective August 25, 2013. The SBOE postponed final action on some of the courses proposed to satisfy mathematics and science graduation requirements. As a result, the SBOE considered further changes to 19 TAC Chapter 74, Subchapters F and G, at the September 2013 meeting. At that meeting, the SBOE approved proposed amendments to 19 TAC Chapter 74, Subchapters F and G, as amended, for first reading and filing authorization. In November 2013, the SBOE approved proposed revisions to 19 TAC Chapter 74, Subchapters F and G, for final adoption, effective August 25, 2014.

FUTURE ACTION EXPECTED: At the direction of the committee, proposed amendments to 19 TAC Chapter 74, Subchapter G, will be presented for first reading and filing authorization at a future meeting.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND SIGNIFICANT ISSUES: The 83rd Texas Legislature, 2013, passed House Bill (HB) 5, amending the TEC, §28.025, to change the high school graduation programs from the minimum, recommended, and advanced high school programs to one foundation high school program with endorsements to increase flexibility in graduation requirements for students. In August 2013, the SBOE held a work session to discuss changes to the graduation requirements in order to align with the requirements of HB 5, including discussion of courses required by HB 5. At the January 2014 meeting, the SBOE approved the final adoption of new 19 TAC Chapter 74, Curriculum Requirements, Subchapter B, Graduation Requirements. At that time, the SBOE discussed the need for additional rigorous mathematics course options for students. At the April 2014 meeting, the board directed staff to move forward with the development of two new mathematics courses, Algebraic Reasoning and Statistics.

This item provides the opportunity for the board to consider the addition of the two new mathematics courses as options for students to satisfy mathematics requirements on the minimum, recommended, and advanced high school programs.

FISCAL IMPACT: Fiscal implications will be assessed after the committee gives direction regarding proposed amendments to bring forward for first reading and filing authorization.

PUBLIC AND STUDENT BENEFIT: Benefits include added flexibility in course options for students to meet high school graduation requirements.

PROCEDURAL AND REPORTING IMPLICATIONS: Procedural and reporting implications will be assessed after the committee gives direction regarding proposed amendments to bring forward for first reading and filing authorization.

LOCALLY MAINTAINED PAPERWORK REQUIREMENTS: Locally maintained paperwork requirements will be assessed after the committee gives direction regarding the proposed amendments to bring forward for first reading and filing authorization.

PUBLIC COMMENTS: The official public comment period will begin when the proposal, approved for first reading and filing authorization, is published in the Texas Register.

ALTERNATIVES: None.

OTHER COMMENTS AND RELATED ISSUES: Proposed new 19 TAC Chapter 111, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Mathematics, Subchapter C, High School, §111.47, Statistics, Adopted 2015 (One Credit), is presented for second reading and final adoption as a separate item in this agenda.

Proposed new 19 TAC Chapter 111, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Mathematics, Subchapter C, High School, §111.48, Algebraic Reasoning, Adopted 2015 (One Credit), is presented for first reading and filing authorization as a separate item in this agenda.

Staff Members Responsible:
Monica Martinez, Associate Commissioner
Standards and Programs

Shelly Ramos, Division Director
Curriculum

Attachments:
I. Statutory Citations (PDF, 30KB)
II. Text of Proposed Amendments 19 TAC Chapter 74, Curriculum Requirements, Subchapter G, Graduation Requirements, Beginning with School Year 2012-2013 (PDF, 76KB)