DRAFT
DIVISION OF CURRICULUM AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Chapter 74. Curriculum Requirements
Subchapter A. Required Curriculum
§74.1. Essential Knowledge and Skills.
(a)A school district that offers kindergarten through Grade 12 must offer the following as a required curriculum:
(1)a foundation curriculum that includes:
(A)English language arts;
(B)mathematics;
(C)science; and
(D)social studies, consisting of Texas, United States and world history, government, and geography; and
(2)an enrichment curriculum that includes:
(A)to the extent possible, languages other than English;
(B)health;
(C)physical education;
(D)fine arts;
(E)economics, with emphasis on the free enterprise system and its benefits;
(F)career and technology education; and
(G)technology applications.
(b)A school district must provide instruction in the essential knowledge and skills of the appropriate grade levels in the foundation curriculum as specified in Chapter 110 of this title (relating to Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for English Language Arts and Reading); Chapter 111 of this title (relating to Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Mathematics); Chapter 112 of this title (relating to Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Science); Chapter 113 of this title (relating to Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Social Studies); and Chapter 128 of this title (relating to Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Spanish Language Arts and English as a Second Language). A school district may add elements at its discretion but must not delete or omit instruction in the foundation curriculum specified in subsection (a) of this section.
(c)A district shall use the essential knowledge and skills as guidelines in providing instruction in the enrichment curriculum as specified in Chapter 114 of this title (relating to Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Languages Other Than English), Chapter 115 of this title (relating to Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Health Education), Chapter 116 of this title (relating to Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Physical Education), Chapter 117 of this title (relating to Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Fine Arts), Chapter 118 of this title (relating to Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Economics with Emphasis on the Free Enterprise System and Its Benefits), Chapter 119 of this title (relating to Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Agricultural Science and Technology Education), Chapter 120 of this title (relating to Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Business Education), Chapter 121 of this title (relating to Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Health Science Technology Education), Chapter 122 of this title (relating to Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Home Economics Education), Chapter 123 of this title (relating to Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Technology Education/Industrial Technology Education), Chapter 124 of this title (relating to Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Marketing Education), Chapter 125 of this title (relating to Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Trade and Industrial Education), Chapter 126 of this title (relating to Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Technology Applications), and Chapter 127 of this title (relating to Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Career Orientation).
§74.2. Description of a Required Elementary Curriculum.
A school district that offers kindergarten through Grade 5 must provide instruction in the required curriculum as specified in §74.1 of this title (relating to Essential Knowledge and Skills). The district must ensure that sufficient time is provided for teachers to teach and for students to learn English language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, fine arts, health, physical education, technology applications, and to the extent possible, languages other than English. The school district may provide instruction in a variety of arrangements and settings, including mixed-age programs designed to permit flexible learning arrangements for developmentally appropriate instruction for all student populations to support student attainment of course and grade level standards.
§74.3. Description of a Required Secondary Curriculum.
(a)Middle Grades 6-8. A school district that offers Grades 6-8 must provide instruction in the required curriculum as specified in §74.1 of this title (relating to Essential Knowledge and Skills). The district must ensure that sufficient time is provided for teachers to teach and for students to learn English language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, fine arts, health, physical education, technology applications, and to the extent possible, languages other than English. The school district may provide instruction in a variety of arrangements and settings, including mixed-age programs designed to permit flexible learning arrangements for developmentally appropriate instruction for all student populations to support student attainment of course and grade level standards.
(b)Secondary Grades 9-12.
(1)A school district that offers Grades 9-12 must provide instruction in the required curriculum as specified in §74.1 of this title (relating to Essential Knowledge and Skills). The district must ensure that sufficient time is provided for teachers to teach and for students to learn the subjects in the required curriculum. The school district may provide instruction in a variety of arrangements and settings, including mixed-age programs designed to permit flexible learning arrangements for developmentally appropriate instruction for all student populations to support student attainment of course and grade level standards.
(2)The school district must offer the courses listed in this paragraph and maintain evidence that students have the opportunity to take these courses:
(A)English language arts - English I, II, III, and IV;
(B)mathematics - Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, Precalculus, and Mathematical Models with Applications;
(C)science – Integrated Physics and Chemistry, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. Science courses shall include at least 40% hands-on laboratory investigations and field work using appropriate scientific inquiry;
(D)social studies - United States History Studies Since Reconstruction, World History Studies, United States Government, and World Geography Studies;
(E)economics, with emphasis on the free enterprise system and its benefits - Economics with Emphasis on the Free Enterprise System and Its Benefits;
(F)physical education - Foundations of Personal Fitness and courses from at least two of the following:
(i)adventure/outdoor education;
(ii)aerobic activities;
(iii)individual sports; or
(iv)team sports.
Adventure/Outdoor Education; Aerobic Activites; Individual Sports; or Team Sports;
(G)health education - Health I;
(H)fine arts - courses selected from at least two of the four fine arts areas (art, music, theatre, and dance) - Art I, II, III, IV; Music I, II, III, IV; Theatre I, II, III, IV; and Dance I, II, III, IV;
(I)career and technology education - courses selected from at least three of the eight career and technology areas (agriculture science and technology education, business education, career orientation, health science technology education, home economics education, technology education/ industrial technology education, marketing education, and trade and industrial education) taught on a campus in the school district with provisions for contracting for additional offerings with programs or institutions as may be practical;
(J)languages other than English - Levels I and II of the same language until the end ofschool year 1998-1999, and Levels I, II, and III of the same languagebeginning in the 1999-2000 school year;
(K)technology applications - one unit of credit selected from a variety of computer-related courses includingat least four courses selected from:
(i)all courses in Chapter 126 of this title (relating to Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Technology Applications) - Computer Science I, Computer Science II, Desktop Publishing, Digital Graphics/Animation, Multimedia, Video Technology, Web Mastering, Independent Study in Technology Applications;
(ii)the following courses in Chapter 120 of this title (relating to Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Business Education): Business Computer Information Systems I and II, Business Computer Programming, Telecommunications and Networking, and Business Image Management and Multimedia; and
(iii)the following courses in Chapter 123 of this title (relating to Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Technology Education/Industrial Technology Education): Computer Applications, Technology Systems (modular computer laboratory-based), Communication Graphics (modular computer laboratory-based), and Computer Multimedia and Animation Technology.
(L)speech - Communication Applications.
(3)The school district must provide each student the opportunity to participate in all courses listed in paragraph (2) of this subsection. The district must provide students the opportunity each year to select courses in which they intend to participate from a list that includes all courses required to be offered in paragraph (2) of this subsection. If the school district will not offer the required courses every year, but intends to offer particular courses only every other year, it must notify all enrolled students of that fact. The school district must teach a course in whichthat ten or more students indicate they will participate in or that is required for a student to graduate. For a course that in which fewer than ten students indicate they will participate in, the district must either teach the course or employ options described in Subchapter C of this chapter (relating to Other Provisions) to provide the course and must maintain evidence that it is employing those options. If the school district will not offer the required courses every year, but intends to offer particular courses only every other year, it must notify all enrolled students of that fact.
Subchapter B. Graduation Requirements.
§74.11. High School Graduation Requirements.
(a)Graduates of each high school are awarded the same type of diploma. The academic achievement record (transcript), rather than the diploma, records individual accomplishments, achievements, and courses completed, and displays appropriate graduation seals.
(b)All credit for graduation must be earned no later than Grade 12.
(c)Beginning in 1997-1998To receive a high school diploma, students entering grade 9 in 1998-1999, 1999-2000, and 2000-2001, to receive a high school diploma, a student must complete the requirements of the minimum high school program, as specified in subsection (d) of this section; the recommended high school program, as specified in §74.12 of this title (relating to Recommended High School Program); or the distinguished achievement program, as specified in §74.13 of this title (relating to Distinguished Achievement Program -- Advanced High School Program); as well as the testing requirements for graduation, as specified in Chapter 101 of this title (relating to Assessment).
(d)A student must completeearn at least 22 credits to receivecomplete a minimum high school program diploma. Credit may be awarded without prior instruction under Texas Education Code, §28.023 (Credit by Examination). College Board advanced placement and International Baccalaureate courses may be substituted for requirements in appropriate areas. State graduation credits must also be awarded for high school courses completed before Grade 9. Credits earned through concurrent enrollment in college courses may be used to meet requirements if the college course meets and exceeds the requirements of the high school course, as prescribed in the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for that course. A student must demonstrate proficiency in the following.
(1)English language arts - four credits. The credits must consist of:
(A)English I, II, and III (English I for Speakers of Other Languages and English II for Speakers of Other Languages may be substituted for English I and II only for immigrant students with limited English proficiency only); and
(B)a fourth credit of English, which may be satisfied by English IV, Research/Technical Writing, Creative/Imaginative Writing, Practical Writing Skills, Literary Genres, Business Communication, Journalism, or concurrent enrollment in a college English course.
(2)Mathematics - three credits to include Algebra I.
(3)Science - two credits to include at least one credit from Biology, Chemistry, or Physics.
(4)Social studies - two and one-half credits. The credits must consist of World History Studies (one credit) or World Geography Studies (one credit), United States History Studies Since Reconstruction (one credit), and United States Government (one-half credit).
(5)Academic elective - one credit. The credit must be selected from World History Studies, World Geography Studies, or any science course approved by the State Board of Education (SBOE) for science credit as found in Chapter 112.
(6)Economics, with emphasis on the free enterprise system and its benefits - one-half credit. The credit must consist of Economics with Emphasis on the Free Enterprise System and Its Benefits.
(7)Physical education - one and one-half credits to include one-half credit in Foundations of Personal Fitness.
(A)The school district board of trustees may allow a student to substitute certain physical activities for the one and one-half required credits of physical education, including the one-half credit of Foundations of Personal Fitness. The substitutions must be based on the physical activity involved in drill team, marching band, and cheerleading during the fall semester; Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC); athletics; Dance I-IV; and two- or three-credit career and technology work-based training courses.
(B)A student may not earn more than two credits in physical education toward state graduation requirements.
(C)For physical education, a district must classify each student, on the basis of health, into one of the following categories.
(i)Unrestricted (not limited in activities).
(ii)Restricted (excludes the more vigorous activities).
(I)Permanent. A member of the healing arts licensed to practice in Texas must provide the school written documentation concerning the nature of the impairment and the expectations for physical activity for the student.
(II)Temporary. The student may be restricted from physical activity of the physical education class. A member of the healing arts licensed to practice in Texas must provide the school written documentation concerning the nature of the temporary impairment and the expected amount of time for recovery. During recovery time, the student must continue to learn the concepts of the lessons but may not actively participate in the skill demonstration.
(iii)Adapted and remedial (specific activities prescribed or prohibited, as directed by a member of the healing arts licensed to practice in Texas).
(D)In accordance with local district policy, a school district may award up to two credits for physical education for appropriate private or commercially-sponsored physical activity programs conducted on or off campus. The district must apply to the commissioner of education for approval of such programs, which may be substituted for state graduation credit in physical education. Such approval may be granted under the following conditions.
(i)Olympic-level participation and/or competition includes a minimum of 15 hours per week of highly intenseintensive, professional, supervised training. The training facility, instructors, and the activities involved in the program must be certified by the superintendent to be of exceptional quality. Students qualifying and participating at this level may be dismissed from school one hour per day. Students dismissed may not miss any class other than physical education.
(ii)Private or commercially-sponsored physical activities include those certified by the superintendent to be of high quality and well supervised by appropriately trained instructors. Student participation of at least five hours per week must be required. Students certified to participate at this level may not be dismissed from any part of the regular school day.
(8)Health education - one-half credit in Health I, or Health Science Technology - one credit.
(9)Speech - one-half credit in Communication Applications, Speech Communication, Public Speaking, Debate, or Oral Interpretation.
(10)Technology applications - one credit, which may be satisfied by:
(A)all courses in Chapter 126 of this title (relating to Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Technology Applications): Computer Science I, Computer Science II, Desktop Publishing, Digital Graphics/Animation, Multimedia, Video Technology, Web Mastering, Independent Study in Technology Applications;
(B)the following courses in Chapter 120 of this title (relating to Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Business Education): Business Computer Information Systems I or II, Business Computer Programming, Telecommunications and Networking, or Business Image Management and Multimedia; or
(C)the following courses in Chapter 123 of this title (relating to Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Technology Education/Industrial Technology Education): Computer Applications, Technology Systems (modular computer laboratory-based), Communication Graphics (modular computer laboratory-based), or Computer Multimedia and Animation Technology.
(11)Electives - five and one-half credits. The credits must be selected from:
(A)the list of courses approved by the SBOE for Grades 9-12 as specified in §74.1 of this title (relating to Essential Knowledge and Skills);
(B)Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) (one to four credits); or
(C)Driver Education (one-half credit).
(e)A maximum of three credits of reading may be offered by districts for state graduation elective credit for identified students under the following conditions. The school district board of trustees shall adopt policies to identify students in need of additional reading instruction, and district procedures shall include assessment of individual student needs, ongoing evaluation of each student's progress, and monitoring of instructional activities to ensure that student needs are addressed. Reading credits may be selected from Reading I, II, or III.
(f)An out-of-state or out-of-country transfer student (including foreign exchange students) or a transfer student from a Texas nonpublic school is eligible to receive a Texas diploma but must complete all requirements of this section to be eligible to satisfy state graduation requirements. Any course credit required in this section that is not completed by the student before he or she enrolls in a Texas school district may be satisfied through the provisions of §74.23 of this title (relating to Correspondence Courses) and §74.24 of this title (relating to Credit by Examination) or by completing the course or courses according to the provisions of §74.26 of this title (relating to the Award of Credit).
(g)Notwithstanding the repeal of §75.151 of this title (relating to High School Graduation Requirements), the requirements for high school graduation for students who enrolled in a high school program onduring or before the 1997-1998 school year remain in effect as adopted by the State Board of Education (SBOE) to be effective June 21, 1984, and last amended to be effective August 8, 1989.