Source: http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index4.aspx?id=4920
Timestamp: 2013-05-24 20:07:33
Document Index: 138036911

Matched Legal Cases: ['§74', '§74', '§2001', '§30', '§28', '§28', '§28', '§74', '§74']

Texas Education Agency - 09 July 16 Inst item 2
09 July 16 Inst item 2
Consideration of Petition for Adoption of Rule Change Concerning 19 TAC Chapter 74, Curriculum Requirements, Subchapter C, Other Provisions, §74.24, Credit by ExaminationJuly 17, 2009 COMMITTEE ON INSTRUCTION: ACTION STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: ACTION SUMMARY: A petition to amend 19 TAC Chapter 74, Curriculum Requirements, Subchapter C, Other Provisions, §74.24, Credit by Examination, has been received from Mr. Darren Nelson. The petition requests that the requirement that a student score 90% on a criterion-referenced test be replaced with the requirement that a student score in the 90th percentile or above on a criterion-referenced test in order to be accelerated by examination or earn credit by examination. This item provides the opportunity for the State Board of Education (SBOE) to consider the petition. STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Texas Government Code, §2001.021; 19 TAC §30.1; and Texas Education Code (TEC), §28.023. EFFECTIVE DATE: None. PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION: Section 74.24, Credit by Examination, was adopted by the SBOE to be effective September 1, 1996; and amended to be effective September 1, 1998; September 1, 2001; August 8, 2006; and September 1, 2008. BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND SIGNIFICANT ISSUES: Section 74.24, shown in Attachment II of this item, establishes requirements school districts must follow relating to examinations for acceleration for each primary school grade level and for credit for secondary school academic subjects required, in accordance with the TEC, §28.023. Mr. Darren Nelson has submitted to the SBOE a petition requesting that the requirement that a student score 90% on a criterion-referenced test be replaced with the requirement that a student score in the 90th percentile or above on a criterion-referenced test in order to be accelerated by examination or earn credit by examination. The petition, which provides the petitioner's rationale and justification, is presented in Attachment III of this item. The TEA staff recommends that the SBOE deny the petition based on the fact that the examinations the SBOE is authorized to approve for credit by examination must, as specified in the TEC, §28.023(a), "thoroughly test comprehension of the information presented in the applicable grade level or subject," in other words, the appropriate Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). The examinations used must be criterion-referenced rather than norm-referenced. While a percentile is appropriate for a norm-referenced examination, it is not appropriate to use a percentile on a criterion-referenced examination. Students must prove mastery of a certain percentage of the TEKS in order for a district to be required to consider acceleration. FISCAL IMPACT: None. PUBLIC AND STUDENT BENEFIT: None. PROCEDURAL AND REPORTING IMPLICATIONS: None. LOCALLY MAINTAINED PAPERWORK REQUIREMENTS: None. PUBLIC COMMENTS: None. ALTERNATIVES: No alternative actions are proposed regarding this item. OTHER COMMENTS AND RELATED ISSUES: None. COMMISSIONER'S RECOMMENDATION: I recommend that the State Board of Education: Based upon the fact that students must prove mastery of a certain percentage of the TEKS in order for a district to be required to consider acceleration, deny the petition to replace the requirement that a student score 90% on a criterion-referenced test with the requirement that a student score in the 90th percentile or above on a criterion-referenced test in order to be accelerated by examination or earn credit by examination. Respectfully submitted, Robert Scott Commissioner of Education Staff Members Responsible:Anita Givens, Associate Commissioner Standards and Programs Norma Torres-Martinez, Deputy Associate Commissioner Standards and Alignment Attachments:I. Statutory Citations II. Text of 19 TAC §74.24, Credit by Examination III. Petition to Amend 19 TAC Chapter 74, Curriculum Requirements, Subchapter C, Other Provisions, §74.24, Credit by Examination Page last modified on 4/25/2010.