Discussion of Standards Related to a Career-Oriented Languages Other Than English Course

November 17, 2016

COMMITTEE ON INSTRUCTION: DISCUSSION
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: NO ACTION

SUMMARY: This item provides the opportunity for the committee to discuss proposed standards for a career-oriented languages other than English course. House Bill (HB) 1431, 84th Texas Legislature, 2015, requires the State Board of Education (SBOE) to develop an advanced languages other than English (LOTE) course that prepares students to communicate in a language other than English in a specific professional, business, or industry environment.

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

TEC, §7.102(c)(4), requires the SBOE to establish curriculum and graduation requirements.

TEC, §28.002(t), requires the SBOE, in consultation with the commissioner of higher education and business and industry leaders, to develop an advanced language course that a school district may use to provide students with instruction in industry-related terminology that prepares students to communicate in a language other than English in a specific professional, business, or industry environment.

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

PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION: The SBOE adopted the LOTE Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) effective September 1, 1998. In April 2014, the SBOE adopted revisions to the LOTE TEKS effective July 15, 2014. In September 2014, the SBOE adopted new LOTE TEKS for classical languages effective November 3, 2014. The revised LOTE TEKS will be implemented beginning with the 2017-2018 school year.

FUTURE ACTION EXPECTED: At the direction of the committee, a newly developed career-oriented languages other than English course could be presented for first reading and filing authorization at the next scheduled SBOE meeting.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND SIGNIFICANT ISSUES: The 84th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2015, passed HB 1431, adding TEC, §28.002(t), to require that the SBOE, in consultation with the commissioner of higher education and business and industry leaders, develop an advanced language course that a school district may use to provide students with instruction in industry-related terminology that prepares students to communicate in a language other than English in a specific professional, business, or industry environment. In August 2016, a committee of secondary and postsecondary educators and business and industry representatives were selected to develop recommended TEKS for the advanced career-oriented LOTE course.

The committee convened for the first face-to-face meeting in Austin in October 2016 to begin working on recommendations for the TEKS. The committee participated in additional virtual meetings to finalize its initial draft recommendations. This item provides the opportunity for the Committee on Instruction to discuss the initial recommendations, which will be provided to the Committee on Instruction during the SBOE meeting.

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

PUBLIC AND STUDENT BENEFIT: Benefits include a new career-oriented LOTE course option for students.

PROCEDURAL AND REPORTING IMPLICATIONS: Procedural and reporting implications will be assessed after the committee gives direction regarding the proposal to bring forward for first reading and filing authorization.

LOCALLY MAINTAINED PAPERWORK REQUIREMENTS: Locally maintained paperwork requirements will be assessed after the committee gives direction regarding the proposal to bring forward for first reading and filing authorization.

PUBLIC COMMENTS: The official public comment period will begin when the proposal, approved for first reading and filing authorization by the SBOE, is published in the Texas Register.

ALTERNATIVES: None.

OTHER COMMENTS AND RELATED ISSUES: None.

Staff Members Responsible:
Monica Martinez, Associate Commissioner
Standards and Support Services

Shelly Ramos, Senior Director
Curriculum Standards and Student Support

Attachment:
Statutory Citations (PDF, 36KB)

Separate Exhibit:
Draft Recommendations for Standards Related to a Career-Oriented Languages Other Than English Course