November 2019 Committee of the Full Board Item 7
Discussion of Proposed Revisions to 19 TAC Chapter 113, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Social Studies, Subchapter C, High School, and Subchapter D, Other Social Studies Courses
November 13, 2019
COMMITTEE OF THE FULL BOARD: DISCUSSION
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: NO ACTION
SUMMARY: This item provides an opportunity for the committee to discuss proposed revisions to 19 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) Chapter 113, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Social Studies, Subchapter C, High School, and Subchapter D, Other Social Studies Courses, to add Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for a new African American studies ethnic studies course and to renumber sections and update course titles to reflect recent revisions to the social studies TEKS.
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Texas Education Code (TEC), §§7.102(c)(4); 28.002(a) and (c); and 28.025(a).
TEC, §7.102(c)(4), requires the State Board of Education (SBOE) to establish curriculum and graduation requirements.
TEC, §28.002(a), identifies the subjects of the required curriculum.
TEC, §28.002(c), requires the SBOE to by rule identify the essential knowledge and skills of each subject in the required curriculum that all students should be able to demonstrate and that will be used in evaluating instructional materials and addressed on the state assessment instruments.
TEC, §28.025(a), requires the SBOE to by rule determine the curriculum requirements for the foundation high school graduation program that are consistent with the required curriculum under the TEC, §28.002.
The full text of statutory citations can be found in the statutory authority section of this agenda.
FUTURE ACTION EXPECTED: At the request of the committee, proposed revisions to 19 TAC Chapter 113 will be presented for consideration by the SBOE at a future meeting.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND JUSTIFICATION: The 83rd Texas Legislature, 2013, passed House Bill (HB) 5, amending the TEC, §28.025, to transition from three high school graduation 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.
There are currently state-approved TEKS for general social studies elective courses that allow educators to select specific historical, cultural, or research topics in social studies to address in greater depth. In social studies, these courses include Special Topics in Social Studies, Social Studies Research Methods, Social Studies Advanced Studies, and Ethnic Studies: Mexican American Studies.
In June 2019, a new African American Studies innovative course was approved by the commissioner of education for use beginning with the 2019-2020 school year. School districts and open-enrollment charter schools may offer any state-approved innovative course for elective credit with the approval of the local board of trustees.
This item presents an opportunity for the committee to discuss adding TEKS for a new African American studies ethnic studies course and renumbering sections and updating course titles to reflect recent revisions to the social studies TEKS.
A public hearing on a proposed new African American Studies course is presented as a separate item in this agenda.
Staff Members Responsible:
Monica Martinez, Associate Commissioner, Standards and Support Services
Shelly Ramos, Senior Director, Curriculum Standards and Student Support