November 2022 Committee on Instruction Item 1
Proposed Amendment to 19 TAC Chapter 74, Curriculum Requirements, Subchapter C, Other Provisions, §74.27, Innovative Courses and Programs
(Second Reading and Final Adoption)
November 18, 2022
COMMITTEE ON INSTRUCTION: ACTION
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: ACTION
SUMMARY: This item presents for second reading and final adoption a proposed amendment to 19 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) Chapter 74, Curriculum Requirements, Subchapter C, Other Provisions, §74.27, Innovative Courses and Programs. The amendment would update the rule to require that applicants for innovative courses must have piloted the proposed course in a Texas school prior to seeking approval. No changes are recommended since approved for first reading.
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Texas Education Code (TEC), §28.002(f).
TEC, §28.002(f), authorizes local school districts to offer courses in addition to those in the required curriculum for local credit and requires the State Board of Education (SBOE) to be flexible in approving a course for credit for high school graduation.
The full text of statutory citations can be found in the statutory authority section of this agenda.
EFFECTIVE DATE: The proposed effective date of the proposed amendment is 20 days after filing as adopted with the Texas Register. Under TEC, §7.102(f), the SBOE must approve the rule action at second reading and final adoption by a vote of two-thirds of its members to specify an effective date earlier than the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year. The earlier effective date would update the requirements for the submission of innovative course applications for the 2022-2023 application cycle.
PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION: The SBOE adopted §74.27 effective September 1, 1996, with amendments effective September 1, 1998, and September 1, 2001. In November 2007, the SBOE adopted an additional amendment to §74.27 effective December 25, 2007. In November 2019, the SBOE adopted an additional amendment to §74.27 effective December 25, 2019.
The proposed amendment to §74.27 was approved for first reading and filing authorization at the August-September 2022 SBOE meeting.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND JUSTIFICATION: After the SBOE adopted new rules concerning graduation requirements, the experimental courses previously approved were phased out as of August 31, 1998. As a result of the adoption of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), school districts now submit requests for innovative course approval for courses that do not have TEKS. The process outlined in §74.27 provides authority for the commissioner of education to approve discipline-based courses but reserves for SBOE review and approval those courses that do not fall within any of the subject areas of the foundation or enrichment curriculum.
Each year, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) provides the opportunity for school districts and other entities to submit applications for proposed innovative courses. At the June 2022 SBOE meeting, the Committee on Instruction requested that an item be placed on the August-September 2022 agenda for the board to consider requiring that an applicant for an innovative course pilot the proposed course in a Texas school prior to seeking approval from the SBOE. The proposed amendment to §74.27 was approved for first reading and filing authorization at the August-September 2022 SBOE meeting.
The attachment to this item reflects the text of the proposed amendment to §74.27 for consideration by the SBOE. The proposed amendment would specify that innovative courses cannot be approved unless they have been piloted in their entirety in a Texas school prior to seeking approval and that data demonstrating successful piloting of the course in Texas be submitted with the application for an innovative course.
No changes are recommended since approved for first reading.
FISCAL IMPACT: No changes have been made to this section since published as proposed.
TEA has determined that there are no additional costs to state or local government required to comply with the proposal.
LOCAL EMPLOYMENT IMPACT: No changes have been made to this section since published as proposed.
The proposal has no effect on local economy; therefore, no local employment impact statement is required under Texas Government Code, §2001.022.
SMALL BUSINESS, MICROBUSINESS, AND RURAL COMMUNITY IMPACT: No changes have been made to this section since published as proposed.
The proposal has no direct adverse economic impact for small businesses, microbusinesses, or rural communities; therefore, no regulatory flexibility analysis specified in Texas Government Code, §2006.002, is required.
COST INCREASE TO REGULATED PERSONS: No changes have been made to this section since published as proposed.
The proposal does not impose a cost on regulated persons, another state agency, a special district, or a local government and, therefore, is not subject to Texas Government Code, §2001.0045.
TAKINGS IMPACT ASSESSMENT: No changes have been made to this section since published as proposed.
The proposal does not impose a burden on private real property and, therefore, does not constitute a taking under Texas Government Code, §2007.043.
GOVERNMENT GROWTH IMPACT: No changes have been made to this section since published as proposed.
TEA staff prepared a Government Growth Impact Statement assessment for this proposed rulemaking. The proposed rulemaking would expand an existing regulation by modifying the requirements for approval of innovative courses to require that an applicant for an innovative course pilot the proposed course in a Texas school prior to seeking approval from the SBOE.
The proposed rulemaking would not create or eliminate a government program; would not require the creation of new employee positions or elimination of existing employee positions; would not require an increase or decrease in future legislative appropriations to the agency; would not require an increase or decrease in fees paid to the agency; would not create a new regulation; would not limit or repeal an existing regulation; would not increase or decrease the number of individuals subject to its applicability; and would not positively or adversely affect the state's economy.
PUBLIC BENEFIT AND COST TO PERSONS: No changes have been made to this section since published as proposed.
The proposal would provide districts and entities that submit applications for innovative courses clearer guidance regarding requirements for approval. There is no anticipated economic cost to persons who are required to comply with the proposal.
DATA AND REPORTING IMPACT: No changes have been made to this section since published as proposed.
The proposal would have no new data and reporting impact.
PRINCIPAL AND CLASSROOM TEACHER PAPERWORK REQUIREMENTS: No changes have been made to this section since published as proposed.
TEA has determined that the proposal would not require a written report or other paperwork to be completed by a principal or classroom teacher.
PUBLIC COMMENTS: Following the August-September 2022 SBOE meeting, notice of the proposed amendment to §74.27 was filed with the Texas Register, initiating the public comment period. The public comment period on the proposal began October 7, 2022, and ended at 5:00 p.m. on November 14, 2022. A summary of public comments received will be provided to the SBOE prior to and during the November 2022 meeting. The SBOE will take registered oral and written comments on the proposal at the appropriate committee meeting in November 2022 in accordance with the SBOE board operating policies and procedures.
MOTION TO BE CONSIDERED: The State Board of Education:
Approve for second reading and final adoption the proposed amendment to 19 TAC Chapter 74, Curriculum Requirements, Subchapter C, Other Provisions, §74.27, Innovative Courses and Programs; and
Make an affirmative finding that immediate adoption of the proposed amendment to 19 TAC Curriculum Requirements, Subchapter C, Other Provisions, §74.27, Innovative Courses and Programs, is necessary and shall have an effective date of 20 days after filing with the Texas Register. (Per TEC, §7.102(f), a vote of two-thirds of the members of the board is necessary for an earlier effective date.)
Staff Members Responsible:
Monica Martinez, Associate Commissioner, Standards and Programs
Shelly Ramos, Senior Director, Curriculum Standards and Student Support
Attachment:
Text of Proposed Amendment to 19 TAC Chapter 74, Curriculum Requirements, Subchapter C, Other Provisions, §74.27, Innovative Courses and Programs