Update on Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) Review

July 15, 2015

COMMITTEE OF THE FULL BOARD: DISCUSSION
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: NO ACTION

SUMMARY: This item provides the opportunity for staff to present an update on the review of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS).

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

BOARD RESPONSE: This item is presented for review and comment.

PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION: The State Board of Education (SBOE) adopted the TEKS for all subjects to be effective September 1, 1998. The mathematics TEKS were amended to be effective August 1, 2006 and September 12, 2012. The secondary mathematics TEKS were also amended to be effective February 22, 2009. The English language arts and reading TEKS were amended to be effective September 4, 2008. The Spanish language arts and reading TEKS were amended to be effective November 26, 2008. The science TEKS were amended to be effective August 4, 2009. The career and technical education (CTE) TEKS were amended to be effective August 23, 2010. The social studies and high school English electives TEKS were amended to be effective August 23, 2010. The technology applications TEKS were amended to be effective September 26, 2011. In April 2013, the board approved for second reading and final adoption proposed revisions to the fine arts TEKS. The revised fine arts TEKS are scheduled to be implemented beginning with the 2015-2016 school year. In April 2014, the board gave final approval to revised TEKS for languages other than English (LOTE), which are scheduled to be implemented beginning with the 2017-2018 school year.

The board took action at the May 2009 meeting to approve a revised process for review and revision of the TEKS. The board approved additional revisions to the process in November 2009. This process was used for the review and revision of the technology applications TEKS. The board approved revisions to the process for review and revision of the TEKS in January 2011 and directed staff to use the revised process beginning with review and revision of the mathematics and fine arts TEKS. At the November 2011 SBOE meeting, the Committee of the Full Board held a work session to examine the instructional materials adoption cycle and the timeline for the review and revision of the TEKS. At the January 2012 meeting, the board adopted a revised instructional materials adoption cycle and updated the schedule for the review and revision of the TEKS to better align with the new instructional materials adoption cycle. The board took action at the July 2012 meeting to approve revisions to the process for the review and revision of the TEKS. On January 30, 2013, the board approved changes to its operating rules and directed staff to update the process for review and revision of the TEKS to align with changes to its operating rules. The revised process was used for the review and revision of the LOTE TEKS. In April 2014, the board again revised the process for review and revision of the TEKS to include more specific direction to TEKS review committees. The revised process is being used for the review and revision of the CTE TEKS.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND SIGNIFICANT ISSUES: The board received training from a standards writing advisor at the July 2014 meeting. The standards writing advisor provided additional training to TEA staff in October 2014 to support future facilitation of the TEKS review committees.

The current subject under review and revision is CTE. Due to the number of CTE courses included in the CTE TEKS review, the SBOE has divided the adoption of the CTE TEKS revisions into two portions. The SBOE approved a proposal for the first group of CTE courses for first reading and filing authorization at its February 2015 meeting. At the April 2015 meeting, the SBOE approved most of these courses for second reading and final adoption and postponed action on §§130.256, Food Chemistry (One Credit) Adopted 2015, 130.362, Introduction to Welding (One Credit), Adopted 2015, 130.363, Welding I (Two Credits), Adopted 2015, 130.364, Welding II (Two Credits), Adopted 2015, 130.365, Welding II Lab (One Credit), Adopted 2015, and 130.387, Practicum in Marketing I (Two to Three Credits), Adopted 2015, until July 2015.

At the April 2015 meeting, the board approved for first reading and filing authorization proposed TEKS for the remaining CTE courses. These courses are presented for second reading and final adoption as a separate item in this agenda.

The SBOE is scheduled to begin the review and revision of the English language arts and reading (ELAR) TEKS and the Spanish language arts and reading (SLAR) and English as a Second Language (ESL) TEKS in summer 2015. Applications for appointment to English language arts and reading and Spanish language arts and reading and ESL TEKS review committees were accepted by TEA from March 5, 2015 through April 6, 2015. The applications received were provided to SBOE members at the April 2015 meeting, and nominations for ELAR and SLAR and ESL TEKS review committees and appointments of expert reviewers were made in spring 2015. Committee members and experts were notified of the appointment in summer 2015.

FISCAL IMPACT: There will be normal business costs associated with this process for the agency, including staff and committee travel, meeting accommodations, and production and dissemination of documents.

PUBLIC AND STUDENT BENEFIT: Benefits include better alignment and streamlining of the TEKS and coordination of the standards with the adoption of instructional materials.

PROCEDURAL AND REPORTING IMPLICATIONS: None.

PUBLIC COMMENTS: None.

ALTERNATIVES: None.

OTHER COMMENTS AND RELATED ISSUES: A public hearing on proposed new 19 TAC Chapter 130, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Career and Technical Education, is included as a separate item in this agenda. Additionally, the following related proposals are presented as separate items in this agenda.

• Proposed new 19 TAC Chapter 130, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Career and Technical Education, is presented for second reading and final adoption.

• Proposed new 19 TAC Chapter 130, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Career and Technical Education, is presented for first reading and filing authorization.

• Proposed repeal of 19 TAC Chapter 127, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Career Development, Subchapter A, Middle School, and Subchapter B, High School, and proposed repeal of 19 TAC Chapter 130, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Career and Technical Education, are presented for second reading and final adoption.

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

Shelly Ramos, Division Director
Curriculum

Attachment:
Statutory Citations (PDF, 30KB)