December 9, 2003

TO THE ADMINISTRATOR ADDRESSED:

Subject: Innovative Course Application and Evaluation Forms

Attached are application and evaluation forms for innovative course approvals. A school district may develop innovative or other locally-designed courses to enable students to master knowledge, skills, and competencies not included in the required curriculum (19 TAC §74.27).

Before you decide to apply for an innovative course approval, please review the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) to be sure that an innovative course approval is needed. You may find that one of the TEKS courses will meet your needs. Since the process to adopt the TEKS took more than three years and involved input from thousands of Texans, the need for a number of innovative courses that do not meet the required curriculum should be limited.

If you wish to submit an application for approval of a new innovative course to be taught in
Fall 2004, or an evaluation of a course that is currently approved, please submit your application or evaluation by February 17, 2004. An evaluation of each course currently approved for individual school districts must be submitted during the last year of approval. Courses approved by the State Board of Education (SBOE) and sponsored by approved organizations will be evaluated by the sponsoring organizations. School districts will not need to submit evaluations of the SBOE-approved statewide courses. Please note that requests for innovative course approvals are allowable under current SBOE rule. These requests do not require waivers of law or rule. Please do not submit requests for approval to the Waiver Unit.

Requests for approval of innovative courses that do not fall within any of the subject areas in the required curriculum will be reviewed by the SBOE in May 2004. The Board must find that a proposed innovative course is academically rigorous and addresses documented student needs.

Additionally, please find attached a list of innovative courses listed by districts that expire in the 2003-2004 school year.

If you have questions about requesting approval of an innovative course, please call the Division of Curriculum at (512) 463-9581.

Sincerely,

Sharon Jackson
Deputy Associate Commissioner
Standards and Alignment

Attachments
Transmittal Form for Innovative Course and Program Approval
Innovative Course Application Form
Guidelines for Evaluation and Renewal of Approved Innovative Courses and Programs
19 TAC Chapter 74. Curriculum Requirements
Innovative Courses Expiring in 2003-2004

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