SBOE Approves Revisions to Dyslexia Handbook and Establishes Plan for Career and Technical Education Programs
AUSTIN, Texas – April 16, 2024 – The Texas State Board of Education (SBOE) approved rules that enable improved supports for students with dyslexia during its April 9 – 12 meeting. The board also greenlit a plan to ensure students are equipped with the skills they need to succeed in the Texas workforce.
Under 19 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) §74.28, the SBOE adopted rule changes that include revisions to the Dyslexia Handbook: Procedures Concerning Dyslexia and Related Disorders. The updates align with House Bill (HB) 3928 to ensure clearer guidelines for dyslexia evaluation, identification, and instruction. This legislation required the SBOE to revise the handbook and determine the qualifications and training requirements for professionals when a student is evaluated for and later identified as having dyslexia. With the board’s approval, the handbook will go into effect 20 days after filing with the Texas Register.
The board also approved the Texas State Plan for Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V.) The act requires state agencies receiving federal Perkins funds to submit a state plan to the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) every four years. The Texas Education Agency and Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board worked to update Texas’s state plan. Key updates included incorporating the recently refreshed Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs of study, defining local levels of performance, and aligning to relevant strategic updates in Texas such as the Tri-Agency Workforce Initiative goals and strategies. With the board’s approval, TEA will now submit the updated plan to the USDE. The plan is set to go into effect for school years 2024-25 through 2027-28.
Additionally, the SBOE received an update on the recruitment process of reviewers for the Instructional Materials Review and Approval (IMRA) process under House Bill (HB) 1605 (88R) and discussed the removal of a set of instructional materials from the lists of approved and rejected instructional materials.
The Board adopted new Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for courses in the agribusiness, animal science, plant science, and aviation maintenance programs of study and adopted TEKS for two science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) courses.
Board members also reviewed and approved rule actions made by the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) that adopt proposed revisions to 19 TAC Chapter 230, Professional Educator Preparation and Certification, Subchapter A, General Provisions, Subchapter C, Assessment of Educators, Subchapter D, Types and Classes of Certificates Issued, and Subchapter G, Certificate Issuance Procedures. These revisions focus on redefining the assessment process for obtaining certification.
Recognition
The SBOE honored former SBOE Chair Dr. Keven Ellis (District 9) with a resolution thanking him for his time as board chair. A board member since 2016, Dr. Ellis served two terms as chair.
The Board would like to thank the Lubbock High School Mariachi and Ballet Folklorico De Oro for traveling to Austin for an exceptional performance during Friday’s session.
The SBOE will reconvene June 25 – 28.