November 2024 Committee on Instruction Item 1

Renewal of Currently Approved Innovative Courses

November 22, 2024

COMMITTEE ON INSTRUCTION: ACTION
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: CONSENT

SUMMARY: This item provides an opportunity for the board to consider the renewal of currently approved courses that are scheduled to expire.

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.

PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION: The SBOE adopted 19 TAC §74.27, Innovative Courses and Programs, to be effective September 1, 1996, with amendments to be effective September 1, 1998, and December 25, 2007. In November 2019, the SBOE adopted additional amendments to 19 TAC §74.27 to be effective December 25, 2019. In November 2022, the SBOE again adopted amendments to 19 TAC §74.27 to be effective February 26, 2023. In November 2023, the SBOE adopted amendments effective February 18, 2024.

From May 1998 through July 2003, the SBOE approved a total of 45 new innovative courses that do not fall within any of the subject areas of the foundation or enrichment curriculum through the annual approval process. In May 2004, July 2007, July 2009, January 2011, January 2012, January 2013, and July 2014 the SBOE approved the renewal of innovative courses in addition to approving new courses. In April 2005, April 2006, May 2008, May 2010, and April 2014 the SBOE approved renewal of innovative courses. In July 2010, the SBOE approved one new course. In April 2015, the SBOE approved for a period of five years three expiring course series submitted for renewal. In April 2016, the SBOE approved one new course for a period of three years and one new course for a one-year period. The SBOE approved for a period of five years each the renewal of three expiring innovative courses in November 2016. At the January-February 2017 meeting, the SBOE approved for renewal two expiring innovative courses for a period of five years, and at the April 2017 SBOE meeting, the SBOE approved for renewal three additional courses for a period of five years each. At the June 2017 SBOE meeting, the SBOE approved two new courses for a period of five years each. At the April 2018 SBOE meeting, the SBOE approved one new course for a period of five years. At the January-February 2019 SBOE meeting, the SBOE renewed one course for a period of three years and granted one course a one-year extension. At the April 2019 SBOE meeting, the board approved for renewal two courses for a period of three years and one course for a period of five years. At the June 2019 SBOE meeting, the board approved renewal of one course for a period of three years and one new course for a period of two years. The board approved renewal of eight innovative courses for a period of five years at the January 2020 SBOE meeting. At the June-July 2020 SBOE meeting, the SBOE renewed ten courses for a period of five years and granted one new course a two-year approval. In January 2021, the SBOE renewed one course for a period of five years. At the January 2022 SBOE meeting, the board approved renewal of one course for a period of three years and five courses for a period of five years. At the April 2022 SBOE meeting, the board approved renewal of six courses for a period of five years. At the June 2023 meeting, the SBOE approved one new innovative course for a period of two years. At the June 2024 meeting, the SBOE extended the of approvals for 24 innovative courses that were part of career and technical education (CTE) programs of study.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND JUSTIFICATION: After the board 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 new 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. In November 2023, the SBOE amended §74.27 to shift from the commissioner of education to the SBOE the authority to approve all innovative courses that fall under the foundation or enrichment curriculum. The amendments also 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.

A brief description of the courses submitted for SBOE review and consideration will be provided to SBOE members prior to the November 2024 meeting. If approved, the recommended effective date for the courses would be August 1, 2025. With the approval of the local board of trustees, the courses would be available for school districts' use beginning with the 2025-2026 school year.

PUBLIC BENEFIT AND COST TO PERSONS: Students would have access to new innovative courses and continue to have access to courses that meet local district needs.

Staff Members Responsible:    
Monica Martinez, Associate Commissioner, Standards and Programs
Jessica Snyder, Senior Director, Curriculum Standards and Student Support

Attachment:              
Text of 19 TAC §74.27, Innovative Courses and Programs