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April 2015 Committee of the Full Board Item 6

Proposed Amendments to 19 TAC Chapter 74, Curriculum Requirements, Subchapter G, Graduation Requirements, Beginning with School Year 2012-2013
(First Reading and Filing Authorization)

April 17, 2015

COMMITTEE OF THE FULL BOARD: ACTION
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: ACTION

SUMMARY:
This item presents for first reading and filing authorization proposed amendments to
19 TAC Chapter 74, Curriculum Requirements, Subchapter G, Graduation Requirements, Beginning with School Year 2012-2013, in order to revise course options for students to satisfy the mathematics requirement under the Minimum High School Program, Recommended High School Program, and Distinguished Achievement Program.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Texas Education Code (TEC), §§7.102(c)(4), 28.002, and 28.025.

EFFECTIVE DATE: The proposed effective date of proposed amendments to 19 TAC Chapter 74, Subchapter G, is August 24, 2015.

PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION:
The State Board of Education (SBOE) adopted rules in 19 TAC Chapter 74, Subchapter F, Graduation Requirements, Beginning with School Year 2007-2008, effective September 1, 2005. Amendments to this subchapter were adopted effective January 9, 2007; December 25, 2007; and August 23, 2010. The SBOE adopted rules in 19 TAC Chapter 74, Subchapter G, Graduation Requirements, Beginning with School Year 2012-2013, effective
May 30, 2012.

At the July 2013 meeting, the SBOE approved proposed amendments to 19 TAC Chapter 74, Subchapters F and G, for second reading and final adoption, as amended, effective August 25, 2013. The SBOE considered further changes to 19 TAC Chapter 74, Subchapters F and G, at the September 2013 meeting. At that meeting, the SBOE approved proposed amendments to 19 TAC Chapter 74, Subchapters F and G, as amended, for first reading and filing authorization. In November 2013, the SBOE approved proposed revisions to 19 TAC Chapter 74, Subchapters F and G, for final adoption, effective August 25, 2014. A discussion item regarding proposed amendments to 19 TAC Chapter 74, Subchapter G, was presented to the Committee of the Full Board during the February 2015 SBOE meeting.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND SIGNIFICANT ISSUES: 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. At the January 2014 meeting, the SBOE approved the final adoption of new 19 TAC Chapter 74, Curriculum Requirements, Subchapter B, Graduation Requirements. At that time, the SBOE discussed the need for additional rigorous mathematics course options for students. At the April 2014 meeting, the board directed staff to move forward with the development of two new mathematics courses, Algebraic Reasoning and Statistics.

At the November 2014 SBOE meeting, the board approved for first reading and filing authorization proposed new 19 TAC Chapter 111, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Mathematics, Subchapter C, High School, §111.47, Statistics, Adopted 2015 (One Credit). At that meeting, the board expressed interest in allowing students who will graduate on the Minimum High School Program, Recommended High School Program, or the Distinguished Achievement Program to satisfy a mathematics credit with the two new mathematics courses, as appropriate. At the February 2015 meeting, the board approved proposed new 19 TAC §111.47, Statistics, Adopted 2015 (One Credit), for second reading and final adoption. Also at the February 2015 meeting, the board approved for first reading and filing authorization proposed new 19 TAC Chapter 111, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Mathematics, Subchapter C, High School, §111.48, Algebraic Reasoning, Adopted 2015 (One Credit).

This item provides the opportunity for the board to consider the addition of the two new mathematics courses as options for students to satisfy mathematics requirements on the minimum, recommended, and advanced high school programs. Attachment II reflects the proposed amendments to 19 TAC Chapter 74, Subchapter G, for consideration by the SBOE for first reading and filing authorization.

FISCAL IMPACT: The Texas Education Agency has determined that there are no additional costs to persons or entities required to comply with the proposed rule action. In addition, there is no direct adverse economic impact for small businesses and microbusinesses; therefore, no regulatory flexibility analysis, specified in Texas Government Code, §2006.002, is required.

PUBLIC AND STUDENT BENEFIT: Benefits include added flexibility in course options for students to meet high school graduation requirements.

PROCEDURAL AND REPORTING IMPLICATIONS:
The proposed amendments would have no new procedural and reporting requirements.

LOCALLY MAINTAINED PAPERWORK REQUIREMENTS:
The proposed amendments would have no new locally maintained paperwork requirements.

PUBLIC COMMENTS: The official public comment period will begin when the proposal is published in the Texas Register.

ALTERNATIVES: None.

OTHER COMMENTS AND RELATED ISSUES:
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.

Proposed new 19 TAC Chapter 111, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Mathematics, Subchapter C, High School, §111.48, Algebraic Reasoning, Adopted 2015 (One Credit), is presented for second reading and final adoption as a separate item in this agenda.

MOTION TO BE CONSIDERED:
The State Board of Education:

Approve for first reading and filing authorization proposed amendments to 19 TAC Chapter 74, Curriculum Requirements, Subchapter G, Graduation Requirements, Beginning with School Year 2012-2013.

Staff Members Responsible:
Monica Martinez, Associate Commissioner
Standards and Programs

Shelly Ramos, Division Director
Curriculum

Attachments:
I. Statutory Citations (PDF, 31KB)
II. Text of Proposed Amendments 19 TAC Chapter 74, Curriculum Requirements, Subchapter G, Graduation Requirements, Beginning with School Year 2012-2013 (PDF, 76KB)