April 2024 Committee on Instruction Item 8
Discussion of Innovative Course Sunset List
April 11, 2024
COMMITTEE ON INSTRUCTION: DISCUSSION
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: NO ACTION
SUMMARY: This item provides the opportunity for the committee to discuss the potential sunset of innovative courses that meet certain criteria established in 19 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) §74.27, Innovative Courses and Programs.
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.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND JUSTIFICATION: After the SBOE adopted new rules concerning graduation requirements, the previously approved experimental courses were phased out as of August 31, 1998. Since the adoption of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), school districts and other entities have submitted requests for approval of innovative courses that do not have TEKS and meet a demonstrated student need. The process originally outlined in §74.27 provided authority for the commissioner of education to approve discipline-based courses but reserved for SBOE review and approval those courses that did 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. In November 2022, the board amended §74.27 to require that an applicant for an innovative course pilot the proposed course in a Texas school prior to seeking approval from the SBOE. At the April 2023 SBOE meeting, TEA staff provided an overview of the innovative course approval process, including key data related to historical implementation of innovative courses. At its November 2023 meeting, the SBOE amended §74.27 to shift from the commissioner of education to the SBOE the authority to approve innovative courses that fall under the foundation or enrichment curriculum. Additionally, the amendment specified the number of years for initial approval and renewal of innovative courses and provided an exemption from the pilot requirement for career and technical education courses that support an approved program of study.
Additionally, the board added §74.27(a)(9) to require TEA to conduct a periodic review of all approved innovative courses and identify courses for possible sunset in accordance with specific criteria. This item provides the committee an opportunity to discuss innovative courses that meet the criteria outlined in §74.27 for potential sunset.
Staff Members Responsible:
Monica Martinez, Associate Commissioner, Standards and Programs
Shelly Ramos, Senior Director, Curriculum Standards and Student Support
Separate Exhibit:
Spring 2024 Innovative Course Sunset Report
(to be provided in advance of the April 2024 SBOE meeting)