January 2025 Committee on Instruction Item 5

Discussion of Proposed New International Baccalaureate Courses

January 30, 2025

COMMITTEE ON INSTRUCTION: DISCUSSION
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: NO ACTION

SUMMARY: This item presents the opportunity for the committee to consider adding International Baccalaureate (IB) courses that are not currently included in the Texas Administrative Code (TAC).

STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Texas Education Code (TEC), §§7.102(c)(4), 28.002, and 28.025.

TEC, §7.102(c)(4), requires the State Board of Education (SBOE) to establish curriculum and graduation requirements.

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(a), requires the SBOE to determine by rule the curriculum requirements for the foundation high school graduation program that are consistent with the required curriculum under the TEC, §28.002.

The full text of statutory citations can be found in the statutory authority section of this agenda.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND JUSTIFICATION: In order for students to earn state credit toward specific graduation requirements, a course must be approved by the SBOE and included in the TAC. This item allows the SBOE to consider the addition of TEKS for IB courses not yet approved by the board.  

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