Proposed Amendments to 19 TAC Chapter 74, Curriculum Requirements,
Subchapter E, Graduation Requirements, Beginning with School Year 2004-2005(First Reading and Filing Authorization)
February 27, 2004
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE: ACTION
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: ACTION
SUMMARY: This item presents proposed amendments to 19 TAC Chapter 74, Curriculum Requirements, Subchapter E, Graduation Requirements, Beginning with School Year 2005-2006, for first reading and filing authorization. The rules in 19 TAC Chapter 74, Subchapter E, outline graduation plans for students, beginning with the 2005-2006 school year. The State Board of Education (SBOE) Earth Science Task Force will inform the committee of its activities to date and will present a proposed amendment to 19 TAC §74.53 and §74.54 to add an option that would allow Geology, Meteorology, and Oceanography (GMO) or Advanced Placement (AP) Environmental Science to count toward the required science credit in the recommended and distinguished achievement programs.
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Texas Education Code (TEC), §§7.102, 28.002, and 28.025.
EFFECTIVE DATE: The proposed effective date of the proposed amendments to 19 TAC Chapter 74, Subchapter E, would be 20 days after filing as adopted with the Texas Register in order to begin implementation of the latest policy in a timely manner. Under TEC, §7.102, the SBOE must approve the rule action at second reading and final adoption by a vote of two-thirds of its members to specify an effective date earlier than September 1, 2004. Even though the amendments would have an effective date of 20 days after filing as adopted, implementation of the new provisions would begin with the 2004-2005 school year. The proposed implementation timeline may pose issues for school districts regarding notification to students and parents about new high school graduation requirements.
PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION: Changes to the science curriculum requirements were adopted by the SBOE in July 2000 (to be effective September 1, 2001) to ensure alignment between Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) courses and the new assessment requirements of Senate Bill 103, 76th Texas Legislature, 1999. 19 TAC Chapter 74, Subchapter E, was last adopted by the SBOE in November 2003 to be effective December 7, 2003.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND SIGNIFICANT ISSUES: Since May 2002, the SBOE has discussed the curriculum requirements in 19 TAC Chapter 74, including issues related to incorporating earth science courses as graduation requirements and study plans and timelines from the SBOE Earth Science Task Force. At the September 2003 meeting of the Committee on Instruction, the SBOE Earth Science Task Force submitted a report with recommendations for strengthening earth science curriculum in Texas schools. (See Attachment I.) The amendment proposed in this item reflects the first recommendation proposed by the task force.
At the November 2003 meeting of the Committee on Instruction, the SBOE Earth Science Task Force presented its calendar of recommendations and a suggested implementation timeline.
19 TAC Chapter 74, Subchapter E, was adopted for second reading and final adoption at the November 2003 SBOE meeting, effective December 7, 2003, for implementation in the 2004-2005 school year. This new subchapter included provisions that added an option for students to obtain the technology applications credit in the recommended and distinguished achievement programs, the requirement that students enter high school on at least the recommended high school program beginning with the 2005-2006 school year, and additional social studies requirements for Grades 3-12 in response to House Bill 1776, 78th Texas Legislature, 2003.
The proposed amendment to 19 TAC Chapter 74, Subchapter E, Graduation Requirements, Beginning with School Year 2005-2006, would allow students who successfully complete a biology course and Integrated Physics and Chemistry (IPC) to take Geology, Meteorology, and Oceanography (GMO) or AP Environmental Science to satisfy the third required science course in the recommended and distinguished achievement programs.
FISCAL IMPACT: None.
PUBLIC AND STUDENT BENEFIT: Students would have additional curricular choices as they complete their public school education.
PROCEDURAL AND REPORTING IMPLICATIONS: School districts would need to notify students and parents about new high school graduation requirements, if changed.
PUBLIC COMMENTS:None.
ALTERNATIVES: None.
OTHER COMMENTS AND RELATED ISSUES: A separate item in this agenda provides an opportunity for board members to give direction to staff regarding a review schedule for the TEKS.
MOTION TO BE CONSIDERED:
Approve for first reading and filing authorization the proposed amendments to 19 TAC Chapter 74, Curriculum Requirements, Subchapter E, Graduation Requirements, Beginning with School Year 2005-2006.
Respectfully submitted,
Shirley J. Neeley, Ed.D.
Commissioner of Education
Staff Members Responsible:
Susan Barnes, Associate Commissioner, Standards and Programs
Sharon Jackson, Deputy Associate Commissioner, Standards and Alignment
Chris Castillo Comer, Director of Science, Curriculum Division
Attachments: