Innovative Courses

Innovative courses allow districts to offer state-approved innovative courses to enable students to master knowledge, skills, and competencies not included in the essential knowledge and skills of the required curriculum (Texas Administrative Code [TAC] Section 74.27). The State Board of Education (SBOE) may approve any course that does not fall within any of the subject areas listed in the foundation and enrichment curricula. The commissioner of education may approve a course within the foundation or enrichment curriculum if the proposed course is academically rigorous and addresses documented student needs.

Approved Innovative Courses

With the approval of the local board of trustees, school districts and charter schools may offer any state-approved innovative course for state elective credit only. Innovative courses may not meet any other specific graduation requirement. A district does not need to apply to the agency to offer an approved innovative course. Innovative courses are approved to meet certain endorsement requirements on the Foundation High School Program.

• List of Approved Innovative Courses 2022–2023 (PDF)

Complete course descriptions and requirements are available for download from one of the content-area pages listed below. Course descriptions include the knowledge and skills for the course, suggested activities, suggested resources and materials, and approved educator certifications. The lists have been updated as of
August 9, 2022.

• Career and Technical Education
• Foundation (Bilingual/ESL, English Language Arts and Reading, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies)
• Enrichment (Fine Arts, Health, Physical Education, Technology Applications)
• Other Electives
• Organizations Other Than School Districts

The Texas Education Agency is currently accepting innovative course applications for the 2023-2024 school year. The supporting materials and application for applicants submitting new innovative course applications and for applicants submitting renewal applications are provided below. Please note that the final due dates for new and renewal innovative course applications are different.

Applicants should submit innovative course applications no later than the due date for the new innovative course application or for the renewal innovative course application. TEA will review applications in the order in which they are received.

Renewal Innovative Courses - Timeline and Materials

• Renewal Innovative Course Application Instructions
• Renewal Innovative Course Application
• Renewal Innovative Course Application (.docx)
• Innovative Course Evaluation Rubric
• Innovative Course Guidance and Examples for the Application Process
• Renewal Innovation Course Application Checklist

Innovative Courses Timeline for Renewal Applications

New Innovative Courses - Timeline and Materials

Notice: The State Board of Education (SBOE) recently finalized a new requirement that applicants for innovative courses have piloted the course in a Texas school in its entirety prior to submitting a course to the innovative course review process. This requirement will be in effect for the 2023-2024 application cycle for innovative courses.

• Innovative Course Application Instructions
• Innovative Course Application
• New Innovative Course Application (.docx)
• Innovative Course Evaluation Rubric
• Innovative Course Guidance and Examples for the Application Process
• Innovation Course Application Checklist

Innovative Courses Timeline for New Applications

Questions related to innovative courses or the approval process may be directed to Curriculum Standards and Student Support Division, by phone at (512) 463-9581 or by email at innovative.courses@tea.texas.gov.

Expiring Innovative Courses

The following is a list of courses will expire at the end of the 2022-2023 school year. The applicants who previously applied for the courses will be given the first opportunity to renew the courses. If a district chooses not to renew its application, TEA will open the application process to other interested districts. Please note that courses authored by a specific organization may be only renewed by that organization.

• List of Expiring Innovative Courses 2022-2023

Questions related to innovative courses or the approval process, may be directed to Curriculum Standards and Student Support Division, by phone at (512) 463-9581 or by email at innovative.courses@tea.texas.gov.