November 2019 Committee on Instruction Item 2
Proposed Amendment to 19 TAC Chapter 74, Curriculum Requirements, Subchapter C, Other Provisions, §74.26, Award of Credit
(First Reading and Filing Authorization)
November 15, 2019
COMMITTEE ON INSTRUCTION: ACTION
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: ACTION
SUMMARY: This item presents for first reading and filing authorization a proposed amendment to 19 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) Chapter 74, Curriculum Requirements, Subchapter C, Other Provisions, §74.26, Award of Credit. The proposed amendment would update the rule to clarify that a district may award credit proportionately for successful completion of half of a course regardless of the time duration of the course.
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Texas Education Code (TEC), §7.102(c)(4) and §28.025(a).
TEC, §7.102(c)(4), requires the State Board of Education (SBOE) to establish curriculum and graduation requirements.
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.
EFFECTIVE DATE: The proposed effective date of the proposed amendment is 20 days after filing as adopted with the Texas Register. Under TEC, §7.102(f), the 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 2020-2021 school year. The earlier effective date would allow districts to award credit proportionately for successful completion of half of a course regardless of the time duration of the course beginning in the 2019-2020 school year.
PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION: The SBOE adopted 19 TAC §74.26 effective September 1, 1996. The SBOE last amended the rule effective November 24, 2015. A discussion item regarding §74.26 was included on the agenda for the Committee on Instruction during the September 2019 SBOE meeting.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND JUSTIFICATION: For students to earn state credit toward specific graduation requirements, a course must be approved by the SBOE and included in SBOE rule. Section 74.26 addresses the award of credit by a school district for high school courses. The rule outlines the general provisions for the award of credit toward state graduation requirements, including the award of credit for transfer students and students who complete high school courses in earlier grade levels and academic requirements for the award of credit. The rule also permits districts to award credit proportionately to students who are able to successfully complete only one semester of a two-semester course.
At the January-February 2018 SBOE meeting, the board approved for second reading and final adoption revisions to the award of credit for International Baccalaureate (IB) courses for 19 TAC Chapters 110, 111, 112, and 114. At the April 2018 SBOE meeting, the board approved for second reading and final adoption revisions to the award of credit for Advanced Placement (AP) and IB courses for 19 TAC Chapters 113, 118, and 126.
A discussion item regarding 19 TAC §74.26 was included on the agenda for the Committee on Instruction during the September 2019 SBOE meeting. At that time, the committee instructed staff to prepare a proposal to update the rule to clarify that districts may award credit proportionately for successful completion of half of a course regardless of the time duration of the course for consideration by the committee and the board.
The attachment to this item reflects the text of the proposed amendment to 19 TAC §74.26 for consideration by the SBOE. The proposed amendment would update the rule to clarify that a district may award credit proportionately for successful completion of half of a course regardless of the time duration of the course.
FISCAL IMPACT: The TEA has determined that there are no additional costs to state or local government required to comply with the proposal.
LOCAL EMPLOYMENT IMPACT: The proposal has no effect on local economy; therefore, no local employment impact statement is required under Texas Government Code, §2001.022.
SMALL BUSINESS, MICROBUSINESS, AND RURAL COMMUNITY IMPACT: The proposal has no direct adverse economic impact for small businesses, microbusinesses, or rural communities; therefore, no regulatory flexibility analysis specified in Texas Government Code, §2006.002, is required.
COST INCREASE TO REGULATED PERSONS: The proposal does not impose a cost on regulated persons, another state agency, a special district, or a local government and, therefore, is not subject to Texas Government Code, §2001.0045.
TAKINGS IMPACT ASSESSMENT: The proposal does not impose a burden on private real property and, therefore, does not constitute a taking under Texas Government Code, §2007.043.
GOVERNMENT GROWTH IMPACT: TEA staff prepared a Government Growth Impact Statement assessment for this proposed rulemaking. The proposed rulemaking would expand an existing regulation by allowing districts to award credits proportionately to students who have completed half of a course and who are in the process of completing a course for high school graduation requirements regardless of the duration of the course.
The proposed rulemaking would not create or eliminate a government program; would not require the creation of new employee positions or elimination of existing employee positions; would not require an increase or decrease in future legislative appropriations to the agency; would not require an increase or decrease in fees paid to the agency; would not create a new regulation; would not limit or repeal an existing regulation; would not increase or decrease the number of individuals subject to its applicability; and would not positively or adversely affect the state's economy.
PUBLIC BENEFIT AND COST TO PERSONS: The proposal would provide districts flexibility to award credits proportionately to students for successful completion of half of a course regardless of the time duration of the course. There is no anticipated economic cost to persons who are required to comply with the proposal.
DATA AND REPORTING IMPACT: The proposal would have no new data and reporting impact.
PRINCIPAL AND CLASSROOM TEACHER PAPERWORK REQUIREMENTS: The TEA has determined that the proposal would not require a written report or other paperwork to be completed by a principal or classroom teacher.
PUBLIC COMMENTS: The public comment period on the proposal begins December 20, 2019, and ends January 24, 2020. The SBOE will take registered oral and written comments on the proposal at the appropriate committee meeting in January 2020 in accordance with the SBOE board operating policies and procedures. 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 on December 20, 2019.
MOTION TO BE CONSIDERED: The State Board of Education:
Approve for first reading and filing authorization the proposed amendment to 19 TAC Chapter 74, Curriculum Requirements, Subchapter C, Other Provisions, §74.26, Award of Credit.
Staff Members Responsible:
Monica Martinez, Associate Commissioner, Standards and Support Services
Shelly Ramos, Senior Director, Curriculum Standards and Student Support
Attachment: Text of Proposed Amendment to 19 TAC Chapter 74, Curriculum Requirements, Subchapter C, Other Provisions, §74.26, Award of Credit