June 2018 Committee of the Full Board Wednesday Item 8
Discussion of Proposed Revisions to 19 TAC Chapter 113, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Social Studies, and Chapter 118, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Economics with Emphasis on the Free Enterprise System and Its Benefits
June 13, 2018
COMMITTEE OF THE FULL BOARD: DISCUSSION
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: NO ACTION
SUMMARY: This item provides the opportunity for the committee to discuss proposed revisions to 19 TAC Chapter 113, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Social Studies, Subchapter A, Elementary, Subchapter B, Middle School, and Subchapter C, High School, and Chapter 118, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Economics with Emphasis on the Free Enterprise System and Its Benefits, Subchapter A, High School, related to streamlining of the social studies standards.
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Texas Education Code (TEC), §§7.102(c)(4), 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 by rule to 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 the TEC, §28.002.
BOARD RESPONSE: This item is presented for review and comment.
PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION: The SBOE adopted the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for social studies effective September 1, 1998. Amendments to the social studies TEKS were last adopted effective August 23, 2010. At the June 2017 meeting, the SBOE approved the proposed TEKS and instructional materials review and adoption schedule and the revised TEKS review process to be used beginning with the streamlining of the social studies TEKS.
FUTURE ACTION EXPECTED: First reading and filing authorization of proposed revisions to 19 TAC Chapter 113, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Social Studies, and Chapter 118, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Economics with Emphasis on the Free Enterprise System and Its Benefits, will be presented at the September 2018 SBOE meeting.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND SIGNIFICANT ISSUES: In accordance with statutory requirements that the SBOE by rule identify the essential knowledge and skills of each subject in the required curriculum, the SBOE follows a board-approved cycle to review and revise the essential knowledge and skills for each subject.
At the June 2017 work session, the Committee of the Full Board indicated its intention to complete a streamlining of the social studies TEKS, with the latitude to make minor revisions to the standards if the revisions would not impact currently adopted instructional materials. The SBOE began the streamlining of the social studies TEKS in 2018. Applications to serve on TEKS streamlining work groups for social studies were posted on the Texas Education Agency (TEA) website in July 2017. Also in July 2017, TEA distributed a survey to collect information from educators regarding the streamlining of the social studies TEKS.
Initial applications for social studies TEKS streamlining work groups were provided to SBOE members for approval in September, October, November, and December 2017 and in January, March, and April 2018. TEA will continue collecting applications throughout the TEKS streamlining process and will provide to the SBOE at regular intervals any new applications received.
At the January-February 2018 SBOE meeting, the board asked staff to provide to the work groups a crosswalk that has been developed between the current social studies TEKS and civics questions on the U.S. naturalization test. The board directed the work groups to avoid recommending deletion of information represented in the crosswalk.
In February 2018, Work Group A, the first social studies TEKS streamlining work group, convened in Austin to review survey results and feedback on the scope of the TEKS collected from focus groups convened by education service centers (ESCs). Work Group B was convened in March 2018 to review historical figures in the social studies TEKS. Work Group C was convened in April 2018 to make recommendations for streamlining the history and geography strands. In late May and early June 2018, Work Group D was convened to make recommendations for streamlining the geography; economics; government; citizenship; culture; science, technology, and society; and social studies skills strands. TEA will continue to post drafts as each work group completes its work.
In 2011, Senate Bill 6, 82nd Texas Legislature, First Called Session, amended the required curriculum to include economics, with emphasis on the free enterprise system and its benefits, as part of the subjects that constitute social studies rather than as a separate subject area. As a result of this change, it is recommended that the TEKS for economics be moved to 19 TAC Chapter 113 at the time the social studies TEKS are streamlined.
FISCAL IMPACT: The TEA anticipates normal business costs associated with this process, including staff and committee travel, meeting accommodations, and production and dissemination of documents. Fiscal implications will be assessed after the board gives direction regarding a proposal to bring forward for first reading and filing authorization.
GOVERNMENT GROWTH IMPACT: Impact will be assessed after the committee gives direction regarding a proposal to bring forward for first reading and filing authorization.
PUBLIC AND STUDENT BENEFIT: Benefits include better alignment of the TEKS and streamlining to ensure the standards can be reasonably taught within the amount of time typically allotted for the subject or course.
PROCEDURAL AND REPORTING IMPLICATIONS: Procedural and reporting implications will be assessed after the board gives direction regarding a proposal to bring forward for first reading and filing authorization.
LOCALLY MAINTAINED PAPERWORK REQUIREMENTS: Paperwork requirements will be assessed after the committee gives direction regarding a proposal to bring forward for first reading and filing authorization.
PUBLIC COMMENTS: The 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: A public hearing on proposed revisions to 19 TAC Chapter 113, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Social Studies, and Chapter 118, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Economics with Emphasis on the Free Enterprise System and Its Benefits, is presented as a separate item in this agenda.
Staff Members Responsible:
Monica Martinez, Associate Commissioner
Standards and Support Services
Shelly Ramos, Senior Director
Curriculum Standards and Student Support
Attachment:
Statutory Citations (PDF, 29 KB)