November 2025 Committee on Instruction Item 2
Adoption of Review of 19 TAC Chapter 74, Curriculum Requirements
(Adoption of Review)
November 21, 2025
COMMITTEE ON INSTRUCTION: ACTION
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: CONSENT
SUMMARY: Texas Government Code, §2001.039, establishes a four-year rule review cycle for all state agency rules, including State Board of Education (SBOE) rules. This item presents the adoption of the review of 19 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) Chapter 74, Curriculum Requirements, Subchapter A, Required Curriculum, Subchapter B, Graduation Requirements, Subchapter C, Other Provisions, Subchapter F, Graduation Requirements, Beginning with School Year 2007-2008, and Subchapter G, Graduation Requirements, Beginning with School Year 2012-2013. The rules being reviewed provide curriculum requirements for school districts, outline graduation requirements, and include other provisions that relate to curriculum requirements.
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: The statutory authority for the rule review is Texas Government Code, (TGC), §2001.039. The statutory authority for 19 TAC Chapter 74, Subchapters A-C, F, and G, is Texas Education Code (TEC), §§7.102, as amended by House Bill (HB) 2 and Senate Bill (SB) 568, 89th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2025; 25.007, as amended by SB 569, 89th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2025; 28.002, as amended by HB 824, SB 12, SB 24, SB 25, and SB 1207, 89th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2025; 28.0021; 28.0023; 28.008; 28.011; 28.012; 28.014; 28.018; 28.023; 28.025, as amended by HB 2, HB 27, SB 568, and SB 2314, 89th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2025; 28.0256; 28.053; 28.054; 29.907; 33.081; and 38.003, as amended by HB 2 and SB 568, 89th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2025.
Texas Government Code, §2001.039, requires all state agencies to review their rules at least once every four years.
TEC, §7.102, as amended by HB 2 and SB 568, 89th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, identifies state and regional organization and governance and duties and establishes the authority of the SBOE to establish curriculum and graduation requirements, adopt rules to carry out the required curriculum, establish guidelines for credit by examination, adopt transcript forms and standards for purposes of reporting academic achievement, adopt guidelines for determining financial need for the Texas Advanced Placement Incentive Program, and approve a program for testing students for dyslexia and related disorders.
TEC, §25.007, as amended by SB 569, 89th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, requires the agency to assist the transition of students who are homeless or in substitute care from one school to another.
TEC, §28.002, as amended by HB 824, SB 12, SB 24, SB 25, and SB 1207, 89th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, identifies the subjects of the required curriculum and requires the SBOE by rule to 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 will be addressed on the state assessment instruments.
TEC, §28.0021, requires school districts and charter schools to offer an elective course in personal financial literacy that meets the requirements for a one-half elective credit.
TEC, §28.0023, requires that the SBOE by rule require school districts and open-enrollment charter schools to provide instruction in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED) and for students to receive the instruction at least once before graduation.
TEC, §28.008, requires the SBOE to incorporate the College and Career Readiness Standards (CCRS) approved by the commissioner of education and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) into the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) and to adopt by rule a chart that clearly indicates the alignment of the CCRS with the TEKS.
TEC, §28.011, allows school districts to offer an elective course on the Hebrew Scriptures and an elective course on the New Testament.
TEC, §28.012, requires the SBOE and the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) to enter into a memorandum of understanding to provide instruction regarding proper interaction between civilians and peace officers in public schools, driver education courses, and peace officer training.
TEC, §28.014, requires each school district partner with at least one institution of higher education to develop and provide courses in college preparatory mathematics and English language arts.
TEC, §28.018, requires the SBOE by rule to establish an advanced computer science program for high school students that permits students to earn advanced math or science credit by successfully completing an advanced computer science course and under which participating districts would implement rigorous standards for advanced computer science courses that are focused on the creation and use of software and computing technologies.
TEC, §28.023, requires the SBOE to establish guidelines for school districts to follow in developing or selecting examinations for acceleration for elementary grade levels and for credit for secondary grade level academic subjects, including a requirement that a school district give a student in Grade 6 or above credit for a subject if the student earns a scaled score of 50 or higher on an examination approved by the board of trustees and administered through the College-Level Examination Program.
TEC, §28.025, as amended by HB 2, HB 27, SB 568, and SB 2314, 89th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, 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 TEC, §28.002.
TEC, §28.0256, requires each student to complete a free application for federal student aid (FAFSA) or a Texas application for state financial aid (TASFA) in order to graduate. A student may opt-out of the financial aid application graduation requirement if a parent or guardian submits a signed opt-out form; if the student is 18 years of age or older and submits a signed opt-out form; or if a school counselor authorizes the student to decline to complete and submit the application for good cause.
TEC, §28.053, identifies the types of awards for which schools participating in the Texas Advanced Placement Incentive Program are eligible and identifies the manner in which funds awarded are to be used.
TEC, §28.054, identifies the requirements for students' entitlement to fee subsidies for a fee paid to take an Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate examination.
TEC, §29.907, designates the week in which September 17 falls as Celebrate Freedom Week and allows the Texas Education Agency (TEA), in cooperation with other state agencies who voluntarily participate, to promote Celebrate Freedom Week through a coordinated program.
TEC, §33.081, requires the SBOE to adopt rules to limit student participation for extracurricular activities during the school day and the school week and identifies requirements related to the suspension from participation in extracurricular activities of a student who receives a grade lower than the equivalent of 70 on a scale of 100 in academic classes identified in this section.
TEC, §38.003, as amended by HB 2 and SB 568, 89th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, identifies requirements for the screening or testing of all students enrolling in Texas public schools for dyslexia and related disorders.
The full text of statutory citations can be found in the links above.
PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION: The review of Chapter 74 was presented to the Committee on Instruction for discussion at the September 2025 meeting.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND JUSTIFICATION: Chapter 74 is organized as follows: Subchapter A, Required Curriculum; Subchapter B, Graduation Requirements; Subchapter C, Other Provisions; Subchapter F, Graduation Requirements, Beginning with School Year 2007-2008; and Subchapter G, Graduation Requirements, Beginning with School Year 2012-2013.
The following information provides a summary of each subchapter and the actions that have occurred since the last rule review to meet requirements from legislation passed by the 87th and 88th Texas Legislatures in 2021 and 2023.
Subchapter A, Required Curriculum
Subchapter A establishes definitions, requirements, and procedures related to required curricula for Kindergarten through Grade 12, the academic achievement record (transcript), and CCRS and TEKS alignment charts.
SB 1063, 87th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2021, amended TEC, §28.025, to add a one-half credit course in personal financial literacy and economics as an option to meet the one-half credit graduation requirement for economics under the Foundation High School Program. At the June 2022 meeting, the SBOE adopted TEKS for the new combined personal financial literacy and economics course to meet the requirements in SB 1063. Also at the meeting, the SBOE adopted an amendment to 19 TAC §74.3, Description of Required Secondary Curriculum, requiring school districts to offer the new course in addition to the two separate, existing one-half credit personal financial literacy and one-half credit economics courses.
SB 1888, 87th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2021, added new TEC, §28.0253, to establish the Texas First Early High School Completion Program. TEA, in coordination with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, was required to establish the program to allow public high school students who demonstrate early readiness for college to graduate early from high school. In April 2023, the board adopted an amendment to 19 TAC §74.5, Academic Achievement Record (Transcript), to require school districts and open-enrollment charter schools to indicate on a student's transcript completion of the Texas First Early High School Completion Program.
HB 4375, 88th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2023, amended TEC, §28.0023, to add instruction in the use of an AED to the existing requirements for instruction in CPR for students in Grades 7-12. In April 2024, the SBOE amended 19 TAC §74.5 to require that completion of instruction in the use of an AED be indicated on a student's academic achievement record in addition to the existing requirement to indicate completion of instruction in CPR.
Subchapter B, Graduation Requirements
Subchapter B specifies high school graduation requirements for the foundation high school program, established by HB 5, 83rd Texas Legislature, 2013, for students entering Grade 9 in the 2014-2015 school year and thereafter.
SB 369, 87th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2021, amended TEC, §28.0256(d), to specify that a school counselor may not indicate that a student has not complied with the financial aid requirement for high school graduation if the school district or open-enrollment charter school fails to provide an opt-out form to the student or the student's parent or other person standing in parental relation to the student. The SBOE amended the graduation requirements in 19 TAC §74.11 to align with requirements in SB 369 related to the financial aid application requirement in April 2022. Also at the April 2022 meeting, the SBOE amended the Foundation High School Program requirements in 19 TAC §74.12 to include the option to complete a personal financial and economics course to satisfy the economics requirement added by SB 1063, 87th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2021.
In April 2025, the SBOE adopted an amendment to §74.12 and endorsement requirements in §74.13 to align with newly adopted career and technical education (CTE) TEKS and CTE programs of study that underwent a refresh in 2023.
Subchapter C, Other Provisions
Subchapter C includes provisions relating to options for offering courses, including correspondence courses and distance learning courses; credit by examination; high school credit for college courses; award of credit; innovative courses and programs; students with dyslexia and related disorders; the Texas Advanced Placement Incentive Program; identification of honors courses; health classifications for physical education; additional requirements for social studies classes for Grades 3-12; additional requirements for high school health classes; requirements for elective courses on the Bible's Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) and the New Testament and their impact on the history and literature of Western civilization; public school physical education curriculum; and requirements for instruction in CPR.
TEC, §38.003(c), requires the SBOE to adopt any rules and standards necessary to administer requirements for screening and services for dyslexia and related disorders under TEC, §38.003. HB 3928, 88th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2023, amended TEC, §29.0031, to clarify that evaluations for dyslexia and related disorders must go through the process required by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. In April 2024, the board adopted updates to 19 TAC §74.28 and the Dyslexia Handbook to align with requirements in HB 3928.
In November 2023, the SBOE adopted amendments to its rules related to innovative courses in 19 TAC §74.28 to shift from the commissioner of education back to the SBOE the authority to approve innovative courses that fall under the foundation or enrichment curriculum, specify the number of years for initial approval and renewal of innovative courses, and exempt CTE courses that support an approved program of study from the pilot requirement in the rules. The rules, as amended, also require TEA to conduct a periodic review of all approved innovative courses and to identify courses for possible sunset in accordance with specific criteria.
At the April 2024 meeting, the SBOE amended 19 TAC §74.38 to align with the requirements of HB 4375 to provide instruction not only in CPR but also in the use of an AED, beginning with students who enter Grade 7 in the 2024-2025 school year.
Subchapter F, Graduation Requirements, Beginning with School Year 2007-2008, and Subchapter G, Graduation Requirements, Beginning with School Year 2012-2013
Subchapter F specifies high school graduation requirements for students entering Grade 9 in the 2007-2008, 2008-2009, 2009-2010, 2010-2011, or 2011-2012 school year.
Subchapter G specifies high school graduation requirements for students entering Grade 9 in the 2012-2013 or 2013-2014 school year.
No changes have been required to the rules in Subchapters F or G since the last rule review in 2021.
In January 2022, the SBOE repealed 19 TAC Chapter 74, Subchapters D and E, to remove high school graduation requirements that were outdated and no longer necessary.
This item presents the rule review of 19 TAC Chapter 74, which is designed to ensure that the SBOE continues to have statutory authority for these rules and that the reason for adopting these rules continues to exist. The text of 19 TAC Chapter 74 is not included as an attachment to this item; however, the rules are viewable on the TEA's website at https://tea.texas.gov/about-tea/laws-and-rules/texas-administrative-code/19-tac-chapter-74.
If authorized by the SBOE, TEA will file the adopted review with the Texas Register stating that the SBOE finds the reasons for adopting Chapter 74 continue to exist. The filing of the adopted review stating that the reasons for adoption continue to exist would not preclude any amendments that may be proposed at different dates through a separate rulemaking process.
At a future meeting, the SBOE will consider proposed amendments to Chapter 74, Subchapter B, to align graduation requirement rules with changes related to recently adopted legislation from the 89th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2025. Also at a future meeting, the SBOE will consider for approval revised charts adopted in 19 TAC §74.6, College and Career Readiness and Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills Alignment, to demonstrate the alignment of the science TEKS adopted in 2021 and 2022 and CTE TEKS adopted in 2023, 2024, and 2025 with the CCRS. The SBOE may also need to consider a proposed amendment to 19 TAC §74.35, Additional Requirements for High School Health Classes, to address new requirements added by SB 1207, 89th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, to the parenting and paternity awareness (PAPA) program districts must use.
PUBLIC COMMENTS: TEA filed the proposed review of 19 TAC Chapter 74, Subchapters A-C, F, and G, with the Texas Register following the September 2025 SBOE meeting. The public comment period on the proposed review began October 17, 2025, and ended at 5:00 p.m. on November 17, 2025. At the time this item was prepared, no comments had been received regarding this review. Any public comments received will be provided to the SBOE during the November 2025 meeting. The SBOE will take registered oral and written comments on the proposed review at the appropriate committee meeting in November 2025 in accordance with the SBOE operating policies and procedures.
MOTION TO BE CONSIDERED: The State Board of Education:
Adopt the review of 19 TAC Chapter 74, Curriculum Requirements, Subchapter A, Required Curriculum, Subchapter B, Graduation Requirements, Subchapter C, Other Provisions, Subchapter F, Graduation Requirements, Beginning with School Year 2007-2008, and Subchapter G, Graduation Requirements, Beginning with School Year 2012-2013.
Staff Members Responsible:
Monica Martinez, Associate Commissioner, Standards and Programs
Jessica Snyder, Senior Director, Curriculum Standards and Student Support