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The State Board of Education met on January 29 to take up several items. Items discussed include curriculum requirements, the Permanent School Fund, and revisions to SBOE rules. The agenda and the video of this meeting can be found here.

 

This report is intended to give you an overview and highlight of the discussions on the various topics taken up. It is not a verbatim transcript of the discussions but is based upon what was audible or understandable to the observer and the desire to get details out as quickly as possible with few errors or omissions.

 

Agenda Item 1: Resolutions

  • Resolutions and presentations of the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching
  • Resolution regarding Career and Technical Education Month
  • Resolution honoring the recipient of the Employers for Education Excellence Award

 

Public Testimony

Chavey Prince, Self

  • Conroe ISD is riddled with inherent systemic racism against African American students and bias; have contacted the Board, but have not been met with any action
  • Asks the board to help on this issue

 

Hailey McFarland, Self

  • New Testing Science Teaching of Reading Exam; began January 1, 2021
  • Must be passed by March not enough time for an additional exam requirement, puts interns’ jobs at jeopardy
  • Asking for a waiver for those currently in their internship; should be grandfathered in

 

Brianna Moreno, Self

  • Asynchronous vs synchronous leaning and COVID-19 has exponentially increased the difficulty of becoming a teacher
  • Does not believe the Science of Teaching Reading Exams is fair to those currently teaching

 

Karen Grey, Self

  • Agency’s Strategic Plan focuses on retainment and proficiency; equity needs to be a part of this plan
  • Need to have a plan in place to invest teachers and students of color

 

Agenda Item 2: Approval of Consent Agenda

  • Item number 6 was pulled from the consent agenda
  • Consent agenda is adopted

 

Agenda Item 3: Proposed Amendment to 19 TAC Chapter 74, Curriculum Requirements, Subchapter B, Graduation Requirements, §74.11, High School Graduation Requirements
(Second Reading and Final Adoption)

  • Little – Requests immediate adoption August 1, 2021
  • 2/3 majority in favor; is adopted

Agenda Item 4: Consideration of Petition for Adoption of Rule in 19 TAC Chapter 113, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Social Studies

  • SBOE received a petition that requests the Board adopt United States History Studies Before 1877 and offer the course to all high school students
  • Little – Recommends SBOE deny adoption of the request
  • Ellis – Discussed earlier in the week, to deny because the course is already required in 8th grade
  • Majority in favor; is adopted

 

Agenda Item 5: Update on Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) Review

  • This item provides the opportunity for staff to present an update on the review of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills and the English Language Proficiency Standards
  • Item also provides the opportunity for the board to provide additional guidance to TEKS and ELPS review work groups
  • No motion and no recommendations by the board

 

COMMITTEE ON INSTRUCTION

Agenda Item 6: Proposed Amendment to 19 TAC Chapter 74, Curriculum Requirements, Subchapter A, Required Curriculum, §74.5, Academic Achievement Record (Transcript)
(First Reading and Filing Authorization)

  • Amendment updates the rule to require documentation of the new graduation requirement that a student complete and submit a free application for federal student aid or a Texas application for state financial aid
  • Chair Melton-Malone – Recommends approval
  • A 2/3 majority in favor; is adopted

Agenda Item 7: Proposed Approval of Innovative Courses

  • Recommends approval of innovative courses that do not fall within any of the subject areas of the foundation or enrichment curriculum
  • Chair Melton-Malone – Recommend approval for a period of 5 years
  • Majority in favor; is adopted

COMMITTEE ON SCHOOL FINANCE/PERMANENT SCHOOL FUND

Agenda Item 8: Proposed Amendment to 19 TAC Chapter 109, Budgeting, Accounting, and Auditing, Subchapter C, Adoptions By Reference, §109.41, Financial Accountability System Resource Guide
(First Reading and Filing Authorization)

  • The proposed amendment would adopt by reference the updated Financial Accountability System Resource Guide
  • Chair Maynard – Moves proposed amendment is approved
  • Hickman – Summary of what this is doing?
  • Chair Maynard – Resource guide is a set of standards for accounting systems and requires an update in the handbook
  • Majority in favor; is adopted

Agenda Item 9: Adoption of Review of 19 TAC Chapter 30, Administration, Subchapter B, State Board of Education: Purchasing and Contracts
(Adoption of Review)

  • The rules in Subchapter B address the historically underutilized business program and procedures relating to protest for purchasing issues and dispute resolution
  • Chair Maynard – Will begin the required review process to determine if the rule is still necessary
  • Majority in favor; is adopted

 

Pulled Consent Agenda Item 6: Proposed Amendments to 19 TAC Chapter 33, Statement of Investment Objectives, Policies, and Guidelines of the Texas Permanent School Fund, Subchapter A, State Board of Education Rules

  • The proposed amendments would amend the asset allocation of the Permanent School Fund, update transactions and restrictions that apply to the PSF, and update cross references
  • Chair Maynard – Regarding the PSF, will be adopted 20 days after filing
  • Chair Maynard – Have pulled item from consent agenda to make amendments to the liquid fund
  • Chair Maynard – Added an instructive amendment to the bond portfolio that is currently limited to investment grade bonds; amendment is to include up to 5% investment grade bonds
  • Chair Maynard – Earlier this year we carved out asset allocation for high yield bonds, now reexamining what we want to do
  • Majority in favor; is adopted
  • Chair Maynard – Permanent School fund lost between $2-3 billion of value in the portfolio in March, but have rebalanced and now at $38.4 billion; total fund is $50 billion
  • Chair Maynard – Provides a history on the liquid account of the PSF for new members

 

COMMITTEE ON SCHOOL INITIATIVES

Agenda Item 10: Adoption of Review of 19 TAC Chapter 30, Administration, Subchapter A, State Board of Education: General Provisions
(Adoption of Review)

  • Subchapter A establishes the SBOE process for petitioning the adoption of changes to SBOE rules, as required by TGC
  • Was moved to the consent agenda

 

Agenda Item 11: Proposed Amendment to 19 TAC Chapter 30, Administration, Subchapter A, State Board of Education: General Provisions, §30. 1, Petition for Adoption of Rule Changes
(First Reading and Filing Authorization)

  • The proposed amendment would update the State Board of Education petition procedures to allow for electronic submission of a petition authorized under Texas Government Code
  • Chair Robinson – Move to approve proposed amendment
  • Ellis – Will also suspending the board operating procedures, so will require a 2/3 vote
  • 2/3 in favor; is adopted

Agenda Item 12: Proposed New 19 TAC Chapter 61, School Districts, Subchapter B, Special Purpose School Districts, §61.111, Applicability of State Law to Boys Ranch Independent School District
(First Reading and Filing Authorization)

  • The proposed new rule would identify provisions of the Texas Education Code that are not applicable to Boys Ranch Independent School District
  • Item was moved to the consent agenda

REPORTS OF COMMITTEES REGARDING AGENDA ITEMS POSTED FOR DISCUSSION ON COMMITTEE AGENDAS

  • For the next board meeting; board members will need to designate content advisors for a new enrichment subject, technology applications
  • CTE workgroup member application deadlines today; also looking for industry members