Proposed New 19 TAC Chapter 74, Curriculum Requirements, Subchapter A, Required Curriculum, §74.6, College and Career Readiness and Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills Alignment
(First Reading and Filing Authorization)

November 20, 2015

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

SUMMARY: This item presents for first reading and filing authorization proposed new 19 TAC Chapter 74, Curriculum Requirements, Subchapter A, Required Curriculum, §74.6, College and Career Readiness and Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills Alignment. The proposal would adopt charts indicating the alignment of the College and Career Readiness Standards (CCRS) and the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), as required by House Bill (HB) 1613, 84th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2015.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Texas Education Code (TEC), §28.008, as amended by HB 1613, 84th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2015.

TEC, §28.008, requires the State Board of Education (SBOE) to adopt a chart by rule that clearly indicates the alignment of the college readiness standards and expectations with the TEKS.

EFFECTIVE DATE: The proposed effective date of proposed new 19 TAC §74.6 is 20 days after filing as adopted with the Texas Register. Under TEC, §7.102(f), 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 the beginning of the 2016-2017 school year. The earlier effective date is necessary in order to meet the statutory requirement for the approval of the alignment.

PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION: The SBOE adopted the TEKS for all subjects effective September 1, 1998. The mathematics TEKS were amended effective August 1, 2006 and September 12, 2012. The secondary mathematics TEKS were also amended effective February 22, 2009. These amendments included incorporation of the mathematics CCRS. The English language arts and reading TEKS were amended effective September 4, 2008, and included incorporation of the English language arts CCRS. The science TEKS were amended effective August 4, 2009, and included incorporation of the science CCRS. The social studies and high school English electives TEKS were amended effective August 23, 2010, and the social studies TEKS included incorporation of the social studies CCRS.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND SIGNIFICANT ISSUES: In 2006, the 79th Texas Legislature required the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and the Texas Higher Education Coordination Board (THECB) to establish vertical teams composed of public school educators and faculty from institutions of higher education that would develop college- and career-ready standards in the areas of English/language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies. The work of the vertical teams was organized in three phases. The first phase entailed a series of team meetings to create the CCRS for the four subject areas. Phase two required the vertical teams to make recommendations regarding alignment of the TEKS with the CCRS. Phase three required the vertical teams to develop or establish instructional strategies, professional development materials, and online support materials for students who need additional assistance in preparing to successfully perform college-level work. Teams also engaged in a series of gap analyses to ensure alignment between the adopted TEKS and the CCRS.

The THECB adopted the CCRS in January 2008. The commissioner of education approved the CCRS, and the SBOE incorporated them into the TEKS as follows: English language arts and reading TEKS in 2008; mathematics and science TEKS in 2009; and social studies TEKS in 2010.

The 84th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2015, passed HB 1613, amending the TEC, §28.008, to require the SBOE to adopt a chart by rule that clearly indicates the alignment of the college readiness standards and expectations with the TEKS. Proposed new 19 TAC §74.6, would adopt in rule charts demonstrating the alignment of the TEKS with the mathematics, science, social studies, and cross-disciplinary CCRS. The SBOE will adopt a chart demonstrating the alignment of the TEKS with the English/language arts CCRS following adoption of revisions to the English and Spanish language arts and reading TEKS.

FISCAL IMPACT: The TEA 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 a clear understanding of the integration of college and career readiness standards in the TEKS.

PROCEDURAL AND REPORTING IMPLICATIONS: The proposed rule action would have no procedural and reporting requirements.

LOCALLY MAINTAINED PAPERWORK REQUIREMENTS: The proposed rule action would have no 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.

MOTION TO BE CONSIDERED: The State Board of Education:

Approve for first reading and filing authorization proposed new 19 TAC Chapter 74, Curriculum Requirements, Subchapter A, Required Curriculum, §74.6, College and Career Readiness and Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills Alignment.
 
Staff Members Responsible:
Monica Martinez, Associate Commissioner
Standards and Programs

Shelly Ramos, Division Director
Curriculum

Attachments:
I. Statutory Citation (PDF, 20KB)
II. Text of Proposed New 19 TAC Chapter 74, Curriculum Requirements, Subchapter A, Required Curriculum, §74.6, College and Career Readiness and Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills Alignment (PDF, 17KB)

Separate Exhibits:
Figure: 19 TAC §74.6(b), Mathematics CCRS-TEKS Alignment Chart
Figure: 19 TAC §74.6(c), Science CCRS-TEKS Alignment Chart
Figure: 19 TAC §74.6(d), Social Studies CCRS-TEKS Alignment Chart
Figure: 19 TAC §74.6(e), Cross-Disciplinary CCRS-TEKS Alignment Chart
(charts to be provided at the November 2015 SBOE meeting)