| INFORMATION ONLY |
March 31, 2000
TO THE ADMINISTRATOR ADDRESSED:
SUBJECT: Chapter 74 Revisions
The State Board of Education will review 19 TAC Chapter 74, Curriculum Requirements, at the May and July board meetings. Included in this review will be proposed changes to graduation plans to align them with exit-level assessment requirements as mandated by Senate Bill 103. This very important and significant review has implications for you, your campus principals, counselors, and other district staff. So that you and your staff may stay informed on this issue, I have enclosed a copy of the latest draft of the Chapter 74 revision.
In addition to the changes mandated by SB 103, the goals of this review include clarification of existing Chapter 74 language to make the rules more understandable and the creation of greater consistency in the graduation plan format to reduce confusion about the requirements. The scheduled time line for the review includes First Reading at the May board meeting with Second Reading and final adoption scheduled for the July board meeting. The proposed effective date is September 1, 2001.
Please note that current graduation requirements will not change and will remain in the chapter, under this proposal. A new Subchapter D that contains the graduation plans scheduled to become effective with this year's seventh graders (as those students begin ninth grade) is included in the proposal.
Other issues for board consideration include discussion of which courses may be used to satisfy the required speech credit. The board previously expressed the desire to designate the Communication Applications course as the required speech course for all students. The board will also review the status of Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps for elective credit in the graduation plans as well as the status of state-approved innovative courses for state elective credit in all graduation plans. In addition, the board will also consider the Physical Education classification requirements that are currently found in Chapter 74.
Additional information and updates will be posted on the TEA web site at www.tea.state.tx.us. Written comments regarding this review may be sent via the web site or may
be addressed to the Division of Curriculum and Professional Development at TEA. The division phone numbers are (512) 463-9581 and (512) 463-8057 (fax).
Please communicate this important information to appropriate members of your district staff, including secondary principals and counselors.
Sincerely yours,
Jim Nelson
Commissioner of Education
Enclosure
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For further information on this topic, contact the Division of Curriculum and Professional Development at TEA. The division phone numbers are (512) 463-9581 and (512) 463-8057 (fax).