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Support Our Work!I am deeply humbled by the faith you have placed in me, and I am so excited about the next 4 years on the State Board of Education. There is so much more work to be done!
In the next four years, I will be focused on protecting public education for all Texans. Join me in fighting for a moratorium on all charters and expansions, equitable funding for all classrooms regardless of zip code, and eliminating punitive consequences from standardized tests. The State of Texas does not provide a salary nor a stipend for TXSBOE Members. Every donation helps! |
2021 Session Dates
January 26 - 29
April 14 - 16 June 23 - 25 September 1 - 3 November 17 - 19 |
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If you are unable to attend Public Hearings and want to submit your testimony,
please email your PDF to SBOESupport@tea.texas.gov / Phone: (512) 463-9007 / Fax: (512) 936-4319
please email your PDF to SBOESupport@tea.texas.gov / Phone: (512) 463-9007 / Fax: (512) 936-4319
January 2020
Texas State Board of Education
William B. Travis Building 1701 N. Congress Avenue, Austin, Texas
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How to participate:
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Click here for the TXSBOE Podcasts
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26 January 2021 ~ Texas State Board of Education General Meeting
First order of business is swearing-in the newly elected and re-elected Texas State Board of Education Members:
2. Review / Revise the TXSBOE Board Organization (Operating Rules)
3. Election of State Board of Education Officers
- Keven Ellis (R - Lufkin) is the Governor appointed Chair.
- Member Pam Little ( R- Fairview) is the newly elected Vice Chair.
- I am the re-elected Secretary.
4. Announcement of Membership of Committees, click here for details.
Committee of the Full Board
- TEKS Updates and State Board of Educator Certification Rules
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- CTE Presentation
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- TEKS Review Timelines & Processes
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- Reading Comprehension, Elementary Science TEKS, Proclamations Overview, Texas Resource Review
- Public Hearing on High School Science TEKS, watch the video here: https://tea.texas.gov/node/102883
27 January 2021 ~ Committee of the Full Board
- Commissioner's Comments
- Proposed Amendment to Graduation Requirements (Second Reading and Final Adoption)
The amendment allows students to demonstrate proficiency in certain communication skills required for graduation beginning in 8th grade. TXSBOE voted in favor of this amendment.
- Action Item. Consideration of Petition (from Jarwanza T. Norris) requesting that the Texas State Board of Education adopt United States History Studies Before 1877 and offer the course to all high school students. TXSBOE voted in against this because this course in an 8th grade requirement.
- Discussion of proposed High School Science TEKS - Discussion on proposed new courses: Aquatic Science, Adopted 2021 (One Credit); 112.48, Astronomy, Adopted 2021 (One Credit); 112.49, Earth and Space Science, Adopted 2021 (One Credit); 112.50, Environmental Systems, Adopted 2021 (One Credit); and 112.51, Independent Study in Science, Adopted 2021 (One Credit). The proposed new sections would update the standards to ensure they remain current.
- Discussion of Proclamation 2023 - This item provides an opportunity for the State Board of Education to discuss the schedule of events and instructional materials to be included in Proclamation 2023. Instructional materials submitted in response to Proclamation 2023 would be scheduled for adoption by the SBOE in November 2022.
- Action Item - English Language Proficiency Standards (ELPS) update - This board may provide additional guidance to TEKS and ELPS review work groups. The Board had no additional guidance for workgroups.
- Discussion - Rule Review - The rules being reviewed address the development and administration of tests, voluntary assessment of private school students, the schedule for the release of tests, and administration and reporting of group-administered achievement tests.
28 January 2021 ~ Committee Service Work
Committee on Instruction - we have re-elected Chairwoman Sue Melton-Malone (R- Waco). Our Vice Chair is newly elected Member Audrey Young (R - Apple Springs).
- Action Item. Proposed Amendment - This item presents for first reading and filing authorization a proposed amendment to update the rule to require documentation of the new graduation requirement that a student complete and submit a free application for federal student aid (FAFSA) or a Texas application for state financial aid (TASFA). Texas Education Code (TEC), §§7.102(c)(13); 28.025(e); and 28.0256(a), as added by House Bill (HB) 3, 86th Texas Legislature, 2019. The Committee voted to postpone this to provide more time for ISDs to meet this requirement.
- Action Item. Proposed Approval of Innovative Courses. This item recommends approval of innovative courses that do not fall within any of the subject areas of the foundation or enrichment curriculum. The course before us this morning is Community Transportation, out of Fort Worth ISD. The Committee approved this Innovative Course for an additional five years.
- Action Item. Approval of Update to Instructional Materials for Learning A–Z. Learning A–Z is requesting approval to update content in its adopted product Raz Plus ELL Texas Edition, grade 5. The updated content has been reviewed by curriculum subject-area specialists and determined to address the pertinent student expectations in a manner equal to the content initially reviewed and approved by the state review panel. The Committee voted to approve this update to IM.
- Action Item. Approval of Substitution of Instructional Materials for QuaverEd. QuaverEd is requesting approval to substitute instructional materials in its adopted product Quaver Pre-K Curriculum. The substituted content has been reviewed by curriculum subject-area specialists and determined to address the pertinent student expectations in a manner equal to the content initially reviewed and approved by the state review panel. The Committee voted to approve this substitution to the IM. Additionally, because this substitution is requested due to a loss of license, the Committee of Instruction has requested staff to research and present to us in the April 2021 agenda, the following: how often has this occurred and what is the financial impact to classrooms/ISDs as a result of this loss of license.
- Discussion Item. The proposed repeal would implement House Bill (HB) 3, 86th Texas Legislature, 2019, which removed the State Board of Education's (SBOE's) rulemaking authority related to instructional arrangements in special education. Click here to review the presented document.
Click here to review all TXSBOE Committees, Committee Members, and Committee responsibilities.
29 January 2021 ~ Meeting of the Texas State Board of Education
It is my distinct honor and privilege as the Secretary to read the first Invocation of 2021, at the Texas State Board of Education. The prayer below was inspired by Jesuit Father Leo O'Donavan's Invocation read at President Joe Biden's and Vice President Kamala Harris' inauguration ~ as well as Jennifer Lopez's Spanish recitation of a portion of the United States Pledge of Allegiance:
Gracious and merciful God, at this time we come before you with hope, and with our eyes raised anew to the vision of a more perfect public education system for every student in Texas - one that welcomes, provides safe spaces, and and secures the blessings we know each child deserves.
We are a Board comprised of and representing many races, creeds, and colors, national backgrounds, cultures, and styles.
We pray that you, O Creator of All, would assist with your spirit of ‘holy counsel and fortitude, that this Body might be conducted in righteousness and be eminently useful to your people.’
Today we confess our past failures to live according to our vision of equality, inclusion, and freedom for all.
Yet we resolutely commit still more now to renewing the vision, to caring for one another in word and deed, especially the least fortunate among us, and so becoming a light for all.
There is a power in each and every one of us that lives by turning to every other one of us — a thrust of the Spirit to cherish and care and stand by others and above all those most in need. It is called love and its path is to give ever more of itself.
Born not of power and privilege, but of care for the common good with malice toward none and with charity for all.
We beg of you the wisdom Solomon sought when he knelt before you and prayed for an understanding heart so that we know the difference between right and wrong.
We trust in the counsel of the letter of James: "If any of you lacks wisdom you should ask God who gives generously to all without finding fault and it will be given to you."
Pope Francis has reminded us how important it is to dream together.
“By ourselves," he wrote, “we risk seeing mirages, things that are not there.
Dreams, on the other hand, are built together.”
Be with us, Holy Mystery of Love, as we dream together - una nación bajo Dios con libertad y justicia para todos.
To the glory of your name forever. Amen.