June 22, 2021 Committee of the Full Board Item 4

Discussion of Proposed New 19 TAC Chapter 112, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Science, Subchapter A, Elementary, §§112.2-112.7, and Subchapter B, Middle School, §§112.26-112.28

June 22, 2021

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

SUMMARY: This item provides an opportunity for the committee to discuss proposed new 19 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) Chapter 112, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Science, Subchapter A, Elementary, §112.2, Science, Kindergarten, Adopted 2021; §112.3, Science, Grade 1, Adopted 2021; §112.4, Science, Grade 2, Adopted 2021; §112.5, Science, Grade 3, Adopted 2021; §112.6, Science, Grade 4, Adopted 2021; and §112.7, Science, Grade 5, Adopted 2021, and Subchapter B, Middle School, §112.26, Science, Grade 6, Adopted 2021; §112.27, Science, Grade 7, Adopted 2021; and §112.28, Science, Grade 8, Adopted 2021. The proposed new sections would update the standards to better align the content and ensure the standards remain current.

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

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, §28.002(j), allows the SBOE to require laboratory instruction in secondary science courses and require a specific amount or percentage of time in a secondary science course that must be laboratory instruction.

The full text of statutory citations can be found in the statutory authority section of this agenda.

FUTURE ACTION EXPECTED: Proposed new 19 TAC §§112.2-112.7 and 112.26-112.28 will be presented for first reading and filing authorization at a future SBOE meeting.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND JUSTIFICATION: In accordance with statutory requirements that the SBOE by rule identify the essential knowledge and skills of each subject in the required curriculum, the SBOE follows a board-approved cycle to review and revise the essential knowledge and skills for each subject.

At the September 2019 meeting, SBOE members were asked to designate content advisors for the review and revision of the science Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). In December 2019, applications to serve on science TEKS review work groups were posted on the Texas Education Agency (TEA) website. Additionally in December 2019, TEA distributed a survey to collect information from educators regarding the review and revision of the science TEKS. TEA staff provided applications for the science review work groups to SBOE members on a monthly basis from December 2019 to June 2020 and in September, October, and December 2020. At the January 2020 SBOE meeting, the SBOE provided specific guidance for the TEKS review work groups.

Also in January 2020, science TEKS review content advisors met in a face-to-face meeting to develop consensus recommendations regarding revisions to the science TEKS to share with future work groups. At that time, the content advisors met with representatives from Work Group A to discuss the consensus recommendations. Work Group A convened in February 2020 to review survey results, content advisor consensus recommendations, and the SBOE's guidance to work groups to develop recommendations for how science TEKS review work groups can address these areas. Work Group B was convened virtually in June 2020 to develop recommendations for four high school science courses: Biology, Chemistry, Integrated Physics and Chemistry, and Physics. In November 2020, the SBOE approved for second reading and final adoption proposed new 19 TAC §§112.41-112.45 for implementation beginning in the 2023-2024 school year.

Work Group C convened for a series of virtual meetings between August and November 2020 to develop recommendations for the middle school science TEKS. Work Group D was convened for monthly meetings in November 2020-February 2021 to develop recommendations for TEKS for five high school science courses: Aquatic Science, Astronomy, Earth and Space Science, Environmental Systems, and a new course in Specialized Topics in Science. Work Group E was convened for monthly meetings between January and March 2021 to develop recommendations for the elementary school TEKS.

Work Groups C and E convened for virtual meetings in May and June 2021 to refine the draft recommendations for the elementary and middle school science TEKS to address the recommendations of Work Group A and consider feedback that had been received on the draft recommendations. Additionally, a final work group, Work Group F, has been identified and will convene in July 2021 to ensure the Kindergarten-Grade 8 science TEKS are vertically aligned and to complete final recommendations for the TEKS.

Staff Members Responsible:
Monica Martinez, Associate Commissioner, Standards and Support Services
Shelly Ramos, Senior Director, Curriculum Standards and Student Support