January 27, 2021 Committee of the Full Board Item 3
Consideration of Petition for Adoption of Rule in 19 TAC Chapter 113, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Social Studies
January 29, 2021
COMMITTEE OF THE FULL BOARD: ACTION
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: ACTION
SUMMARY: A petition to adopt a new course in 19 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) Chapter 113, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Social Studies, has been received from Jarwanza T. Norris. The petition requests that the State Board of Education (SBOE) adopt United States History Studies Before 1877 and offer the course to all high school students. This item provides an opportunity for the SBOE to consider the petition.
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Texas Government Code (TGC), §2001.021; Texas Education Code (TEC) §28.002 and §28.025; and 19 TAC §30.1.
TGC, §2001.021, permits an interested person to request that a state agency adopt a rule change. It also requires a state agency to either deny the petition in writing or initiate rulemaking proceedings.
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 to by rule determine the curriculum requirements for the foundation high school graduation program that are consistent with the required curriculum under the TEC, §28.002.
19 TAC §30.1 allows any interested person to petition the SBOE for the adoption, amendment, or repeal of an SBOE rule and establishes the procedures for the review of a petition for a rule change.
The full text of statutory citations can be found in the statutory authority section of this agenda.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND JUSTIFICATION: Jarwanza T. Norris submitted to the SBOE a petition requesting that the board adopt United States History Studies Before 1877 and offer the course to all high school students. The petitioner indicated that adoption of United States History Studies Before 1877 is necessary because the SBOE deprived millions of past and current students their unalienable rights. The petitioner further stated that adoption of United States History Studies Before 1877 is desirable to affect peaceable change in the world and advance the common knowledge of the people. The petition, which provides the petitioner's rationale and justification, is presented in the attachment to this item.
State law 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.
The Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills adopted by the SBOE for Grade 8 social studies cover the history of the United States from the early colonial period through Reconstruction. The content in Grade 8 builds upon that from Grade 5 but provides more depth and breadth. Historical content focuses on the political, economic, religious, and social events and issues related to the colonial and revolutionary eras, the creation and ratification of the U.S. Constitution, challenges of the early republic, the Age of Jackson, westward expansion, sectionalism, the Civil War, and Reconstruction. Students describe the physical characteristics of the United States and their impact on population distribution and settlement patterns in the past and present. Students analyze the various economic factors that influenced the development of colonial America and the early years of the republic and identify the origins of the free enterprise system. Students examine the American beliefs and principles, including limited government, checks and balances, federalism, separation of powers, and individual rights, reflected in the U.S. Constitution and other historical documents. Students evaluate the impact of Supreme Court cases and major reform movements of the 19th century and examine the rights and responsibilities of citizens of the United States as well as the importance of effective leadership in a constitutional republic. All Grade 8 students are required to receive instruction in United States History through 1877. Therefore, TEA staff recommends that the SBOE deny the petition.
MOTION TO BE CONSIDERED: The State Board of Education:
Deny the petition to adopt United States History Studies Before 1877 and offer the course to all high school students because all Grade 8 students are required to receive instruction in United States History through 1877.
Staff Member Responsible:
Monica Martinez, Associate Commissioner, Standards and Support Services
Attachment:
Petition for Adoption of Rule Concerning United States History Studies Before 1877