Public Comment Period for Proposed New Occupational Safety and Health TEKS
The SBOE approved for first reading and filing authorization proposed new TEKS for occupational safety and health at its April 2023 meeting. The official public comment period for the proposed new TEKS will close on Friday, June 16, 2023.
The SBOE is considering two options for TEKS in occupational safety and health:
- Proposed new 19 Texas Administrative Code (TAC), §127.17 presents TEKS that would be required to be embedded into the content for 14 CTE principles courses. As the SBOE updates the CTE principles courses, these TEKS would be added into each of the specified courses.
- Proposed new 19 TAC §127.18 presents TEKS for a one-credit standalone course in occupational safety and health.
The SBOE is expected to take action for second reading and final adoption at its June 2023 meeting, with expected implementation beginning with the 2023-2024 school year. The SBOE is requesting feedback from educators and the public regarding which of these two options are preferred. To view the proposed new TEKS and submit public comments, click here.
Draft Recommendations for Career Preparation and Entrepreneurship
At the June 2023 SBOE meeting, the State Board of Education (SBOE) will discuss draft recommendations for CTE Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) in career preparation and entrepreneurship. The draft recommendations are currently posted on the 2023 CTE TEKS Review webpage.
A public hearing on the proposed new career preparation and entrepreneurship TEKS is scheduled for Tuesday, June 20, 2023. The public hearing and discussion item are posted in the SBOE’s agenda. Individuals may register online to provide public testimony beginning on Thursday, June 15 at 8:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m. (Central Time), on Friday, June 16. Public testimony is in-person at the Texas Education Agency.
Additional information regarding registration is provided on the public testimony registration web page. The SBOE meeting can be viewed via the live webcast. The webcast will also be archived and available via the same link after the meeting.
New Career and College Exploration TEKS
At the April 2023 meeting, the SBOE adopted new middle school TEKS in career and college exploration to be implemented beginning with the 2023-2024 school year. The Career and College Exploration TEKS can be used to satisfy the requirement for each student to receive instruction in high school, college, and career preparation at least once in grade 7 or 8 (TEC §28.016). Two service IDs will be published for the new TEKS in the July publication of the Texas Student Data System Public Education Information Management System (TSDS PEIMS). The new TEKS replace TEKS for Investigating Careers  and College and Career Readiness.
Career and College Exploration will be effective in 19 TAC, Chapter 127, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Career Development and Career and Technical Education, Subchapter A, Middle School, on August 1, 2023. Prior to the August 1 effective date, districts and schools can access the TEKSÂ here.
Adopted School Safety Standards
On June 2, 2022 Governor Abbott charged the Commissioner of Education with rule development to ensure existing school facilities are held to heightened safety standard, and to determine costs of more secure facilities in schools. As authorized by Texas Education Code (TEC), §§7.061 and 37.115(b), the School Safety Standards in 19 TAC §61.1031 were adopted on May 31, 2023, to address minimum school safety standards that will better ensure the safety of students and staff in our public schools. The adopted rule requires that all public school system instructional facilities have access points that are secured by design, maintained to operate as intended, and appropriately monitored.
On November 3, 2022, TEA released a formula-based grant to support the school safety standards rule referenced above. The grant allows for pre-award for items purchased on or after June 1, 2022. Application due date is: August 1, 2023. Grant details are available on the TEA Grant Opportunities page.
The Texas Legislature has provided new funding for school safety totaling $1.4 billion for the next two years, including $1.1 billion in one-time funding through the supplemental appropriations bill to address new minimum school safety standards and other facilities-related safety improvements. TEA will provide more information on accessing this funding in the coming months. In addition, the General Appropriations Act increases ongoing school safety funding by $300 million per biennium (about $150 million per year) through the school safety allotment and technical support/oversight programs. More school safety resources are posted at the TEA Safe Schools Webpage.