Proposed New 19 TAC Chapter 127, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Career Development, Subchapter B, High School, §127.16, Extended Career Preparation (One Credit), Adopted 2016
(First Reading and Filing Authorization)

January 29, 2016

COMMITTEE ON INSTRUCTION: ACTION
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: ACTION

SUMMARY: This item presents for first reading and filing authorization proposed new 19 TAC Chapter 127, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Career Development, Subchapter B, High School, §127.16, Extended Career Preparation (One Credit), Adopted 2016. The proposal would add Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for a new career preparation course to allow students to earn up to a total of three credits each in Career Preparation I and Career Preparation II. The proposal recommends an implementation date of the 2017-2018 school year.

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

TEC, §7.102(c)(4), requires the State Board of Education (SBOE) to establish curriculum and graduation requirements. TEC, §28.002, identifies the subjects of the required curriculum and requires the SBOE to by rule identify the essential knowledge and skills of each subject in the required curriculum that all students should be able to demonstrate and that will be used in evaluating instructional materials and addressed on the state assessment instruments. TEC, §28.025, requires the SBOE by rule to determine the curriculum requirements for the foundation high school graduation program that are consistent with the required curriculum under §28.002.

EFFECTIVE DATE: The proposed effective date of proposed new 19 TAC §127.16 is August 28, 2017.

PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION: The SBOE adopted the TEKS for career and technical education (CTE), including career development, effective September 1, 1998. The CTE TEKS were amended effective August 23, 2010. In April 2015 and July 2015, the board approved for second reading and final adoption proposed revisions to the CTE TEKS. At the September 2015 meeting, the board approved for second reading and final adoption proposed new CTE TEKS for an Advanced Marketing course and second-level practicum and automotive technology courses. The revised CTE TEKS are scheduled to be implemented beginning with the 2017-2018 school year.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND SIGNIFICANT ISSUES: In April 2015, the SBOE requested that staff prepare TEKS for a new, second-level practicum course for each proposed practicum in 19 TAC Chapter 130. The one-credit extended practicum courses may be combined with the associated practicum course in order to allow a student to master additional knowledge and skills and earn up to three credits.

The extended practicum courses were given final approval at the September 2015 SBOE meeting. During the public comment period, a comment was received expressing concern that the two career preparation courses in 19 TAC Chapter 127 did not have a similar third-credit option. As a result, the SBOE requested that staff prepare TEKS for an extended Career Preparation course for action at a future meeting. This extended career preparation course will provide districts with added flexibility to offer a capstone course in career development that will best prepare students for postsecondary success.

Attachment II reflects the text of proposed new 19 TAC §127.16 for consideration by the SBOE for first reading and filing authorization.

FISCAL IMPACT: There may be fiscal implications for the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to create professional development to help teachers and administrators understand the revisions to the TEKS. For fiscal years 2014 and 2015, the estimated cost to the TEA for reviewing and revising this set of TEKS was accounted for as part of the initial review and revision of all of the CTE TEKS and there is no additional fiscal impact for revision of this course.

There may be anticipated fiscal implications for school districts and charter schools to implement the new course, which may include the need for professional development and revisions to district-developed databases, curriculum, and scope and sequence documents. Since curriculum and instruction decisions are made at the local district level, it is difficult to estimate the fiscal impact on any given district.

The TEA has determined that there is no direct adverse economic impact for small businesses or microbusinesses; therefore, no regulatory flexibility analysis, specified in Texas Government Code, §2006.002, is required.

PUBLIC AND STUDENT BENEFIT: Benefits include added flexibility for districts when offering capstone courses in career development and the ability for students to master additional knowledge and skills that will best prepare students for postsecondary success.

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 new locally maintained paperwork requirements.

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

ALTERNATIVES: None.

OTHER COMMENTS AND RELATED ISSUES: None.

MOTION TO BE CONSIDERED: The State Board of Education:

Approve for first reading and filing authorization proposed new 19 TAC Chapter 127, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Career Development, Subchapter B, High School, §127.16, Extended Career Preparation (One Credit), Adopted 2016, with an effective date of August 28, 2017.

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

Shelly Ramos, Division Director
Curriculum

Attachments:
I. Statutory Citations (PDF, 23KB)
II. Text of Proposed New 19 TAC Chapter 127, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Career Development, Subchapter B, High School, §127.16, Extended Career Preparation (One Credit), Adopted 2016 (PDF, 27KB)