January 28, 2020 Committee of the Full Board Item 3
Public Hearing on Proposed New African American Studies Course
January 28, 2020
COMMITTEE OF THE FULL BOARD: DISCUSSION
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: NO ACTION
SUMMARY: A public hearing before the State Board of Education (SBOE) is scheduled for Tuesday, January 28, 2020, in the William B. Travis Building, Room 1-104. Testimony will be presented regarding the proposed addition of Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for a new high school African American studies course. Due to the anticipated volume of testimony, oral testimony will be limited to two minutes per person.
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 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.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND JUSTIFICATION: 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.
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.
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.
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, are presented as a separate item in this agenda.
PUBLIC BENEFIT AND COST TO PERSONS: Benefits include the availability of a new TEKS-based course option for students and increased flexibility in meeting graduation requirements. There is no anticipated economic cost to persons who are required to comply with the proposal.
Staff Members Responsible:
Monica Martinez, Associate Commissioner, Standards and Support Services
Shelly Ramos, Senior Director, Curriculum Standards and Student Support