November 20, 2024 Committee of the Full Board Item 3
Public Hearing on Proposed Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Middle School Advanced Mathematics
November 20, 2024
COMMITTEE OF THE FULL BOARD: DISCUSSION
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: NO ACTION
SUMMARY: A public hearing before the State Board of Education (SBOE) is scheduled for Wednesday, November 20, 2024. Testimony will be presented regarding Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) to support middle school advanced mathematics programs designed to enable students to enroll in Algebra I in eighth grade. In accordance with SBOE operating procedures, oral testimony will be limited to two minutes per person.
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Texas Education Code (TEC), §§7.102(c)(4), 28.002(a) and (c), and 28.029.
TEC, §7.102(c)(4), requires the State Board of Education (SBOE) to establish curriculum and graduation requirements.
TEC, §28.002(a), identifies the subjects of the required curriculum.
TEC, §28.002(c), requires the SBOE to identify by rule 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, §28.029, requires school districts and open-enrollment charter schools to develop an advanced mathematics program for middle school students that is designed to enable those students to enroll in Algebra I in eighth grade.
The full text of statutory citations can be found in the statutory authority section of this agenda.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND JUSTIFICATION: The SBOE adopted the TEKS for all subjects effective September 1, 1998. The mathematics TEKS were amended effective August 1, 2006. The secondary mathematics TEKS were amended effective February 22, 2009. The mathematics TEKS were again amended effective September 12, 2012.
At the June 2019 SBOE meeting, the board held a work session to discuss updating the TEKS and instructional materials review and adoption schedule. At the September 2019 meeting, the board approved the schedule through the 2030-2031 school year. The board held another work session to discuss updates to the TEKS and instructional materials review and adoption schedule at the January 2021 meeting. The board approved updates to the TEKS and instructional materials review and adoption schedule at the April 2021 meeting. At the April 2023 SBOE meeting, the board approved changes to the TEKS review process, including the addition of a process for selecting work group members. At the June 2024 SBOE meeting, the board approved moving forward with the establishment of TEKS for middle school advanced mathematics. At the September 2024 SBOE meeting, the board directed the work group to present recommendations for two models for middle school advanced mathematics TEKS. One model must be based on the importance of keeping the sixth grade TEKS similar to the current TEKS and would combine the seventh and eighth grade TEKS into seventh grade. The SBOE gave the work group leeway to analyze models from Barbers Hill Independent School District (ISD), Tomball ISD, and other school districts to develop recommendations for the second model. Additionally, the SBOE directed the work group to recommend one of the two models for the SBOE’s further consideration.
Discussion of proposed TEKS for middle school advanced mathematics is presented for discussion as a separate item in this agenda.
Staff Members Responsible:
Monica Martinez, Associate Commissioner, Standards and Programs
Jessica Snyder, Senior Director, Curriculum Standards and Student Support