September 2025 Committee on Instruction Item 3
Discussion of Possible Amendments to 19 TAC Chapter 74, Curriculum Requirements, Subchapter C, Other Provisions, §74.27, Innovative Courses and Programs
September 11, 2025
COMMITTEE ON INSTRUCTION: DISCUSSION
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: NO ACTION
SUMMARY: This item provides an opportunity for the committee to discuss possible amendments to 19 Texas Administrative Code (TAC), Chapter 74, Curriculum Requirements, Subchapter C, Other Provisions, §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 link above.
FUTURE ACTION EXPECTED: The proposed amendment to 19 TAC §74.27, Innovative Courses and Programs will be presented to the State Board of Education for first reading and filing authorization at the November SBOE meeting.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND JUSTIFICATION: After the SBOE adopted new rules concerning graduation requirements, the experimental courses previously approved were phased out as of August 31, 1998. As a result of the adoption of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), school districts now submit new requests for innovative course approval for courses not included in the required TEKS. The process outlined in §74.27 provides authority for the commissioner of education to approve discipline-based courses but reserves for SBOE review and approval those courses that do not fall within any of the subject areas of the foundation or enrichment curricula.
Each year, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) provides the opportunity for school districts and other entities to submit applications for proposed innovative courses. 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. In November 2023, the SBOE adopted amendments to its rules related to innovative courses in 19 TAC §74.27 to shift from the commissioner of education back to the SBOE the authority to approve innovative courses that fall under the foundation or enrichment curricula, 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.
The attachment to this item reflects the text of 19 TAC §74.27.
Staff Member Responsible:
Shannon Trejo, Deputy Commissioner, School Programs
Attachment:
Text of 19 TAC Chapter 74, Curriculum Requirements, Subchapter C, Other Provisions, §74.27, Innovative Courses and Programs