August 31, 2021 Committee of the Full Board Item 1

Public Hearing on Proposed New 19 TAC Chapter 127, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Career Development, Subchapter G, Education and Training; Subchapter I, Health Science; Subchapter J, Hospitality and Tourism; Subchapter M, Law and Public Service; and Subchapter O, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics

August 31, 2021

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, August 31, 2021, in the William B. Travis Building, Room 1-104. Testimony will be presented regarding proposed new 19 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) Chapter 127, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Career Development, Subchapter G, Education and Training; Subchapter I, Health Science; Subchapter J, Hospitality and Tourism; Subchapter M, Law and Public Service; and Subchapter O, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. In accordance with SBOE operating procedures, oral testimony will be limited to two minutes per person.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Texas Education Code (TEC), §§7.102(c)(4); 28.002(a), (c), (n), and (o); and 28.025(a), (b-2), and (b-17).

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, §28.002(n), allows the SBOE to by rule develop and implement a plan designed to incorporate foundation curriculum requirements into the career and technical education (CTE) curriculum required in TEC, §28.002.

TEC, §28.002(o), requires the SBOE to determine that at least 50% of the approved CTE courses are cost effective for a school district to implement.

TEC, §28.025(a), requires the SBOE by rule to determine the curriculum requirements for the foundation high school graduation program that are consistent with the required curriculum under the TEC, §28.002.

TEC, §28.025(b-2), requires the SBOE by rule to allow a student to comply with the curriculum requirements for the third and fourth mathematics credits under TEC, §28.025(b-1)(2), or the third and fourth science credits under TEC, §28.025(b-1)(3), by successfully completing a CTE course designated by the SBOE as containing substantially similar and rigorous content.

TEC, §28.025(b-17), requires the SBOE by rule to ensure that a student may comply with curriculum requirements under TEC, §28.025(b-1)(6), by successfully completing an advanced CTE course, including a course that may lead to an industry-recognized credential or certificate or an associate degree.

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

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.

During the January 2021 meeting, staff provided an update on plans for the review and revision of CTE courses that satisfy a science graduation requirement as well as certain courses in the health science, education and training, and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programs of study. Applications to serve on these CTE Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills review work groups were posted on the Texas Education Agency (TEA) website in December 2020. TEA staff provided SBOE members applications for approval to serve on a CTE work group at the January 2021 SBOE meeting. Additional applications were provided to SBOE members in February and March 2021. Work groups were convened to develop recommendations for the CTE courses in March, April, May, June, and July 2021.

Proposed new 19 TAC Chapter 127, Subchapters G, I, J, M, and O, is presented for first reading and filing authorization 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