Languages Other Than English Newsletter
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Today's newsletter provides information related to the following topics.
New Innovative Courses
The Curriculum Standards and Student Support Division has published updates to the Innovative Courses webpage for the current 2020–2021 school year. Updates include—
- a revised list of all currently approved courses;
- new course options in fine arts and social studies; and
- newly approved career and technical education (CTE) courses to address Programs of Study.
Complete course descriptions that include content standards, recommended resources, and educator certification requirements are available to download from the content area pages. As a reminder, school districts must have the approval of their local board of trustees to offer approved innovative courses, and innovative courses are eligible to meet state elective credit only and may not be used to fulfill any other specific graduation requirement.
Innovative Course Approval Process
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) is now accepting applications for innovative courses for the 2021–2022 school year. The course application and procedures may be accessed via the Innovative Courses webpage.
Texas Administrative Code (TAC), Section 74.27, allows school districts to offer innovative courses to enable students to master knowledge, skills, and competencies not included in the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). Each innovative course must be academically rigorous and address the needs of students across the state. Innovative courses must be approved by either the State Board of Education (SBOE) or the commissioner of education. State-approved innovative courses may satisfy state elective credit toward graduation. The approval of the local board of trustees is required in order for school districts and charter schools to offer state-approved innovative courses.
TEA will review applications in the order in which they are received and make recommendations for approval. The application timeline for innovative courses will be as follows:
- Applicants will have the opportunity to submit preliminary work to the agency for feedback by December 1, 2020.
- Applications for the renewal of existing courses must be received by December 18, 2020. Please refer to the expiring courses list.
- Applications for new innovative courses must be received by January 19, 2021.
Applicants are encouraged to submit innovative course applications as early in the application window as possible.
Courses that require SBOE approval will be considered by the board at the January 2021 or April 2021 meeting. All applicants will receive a final determination no later than May 1, 2021.
Expiring Innovative Courses
The list of innovative courses expiring at the end of the 2020–2021 school year is available on the Innovative Courses webpage. Should TEA not receive an application to renew, the agency may expire the course at the end of the current school year.
Questions related to current innovative courses, expiring innovative courses, or the course application and approval process may be directed to Kelsey Kling, Curriculum Standards and Student Support Division, by phone at (512) 463-9581 or by email at innovative.courses@tea.texas.gov.
Thank you for your commitment to serving Texas students.
Kelsey Kling, Fine Arts Coordinator
Curriculum Standards and Student Support Division
kelsey.kling@tea.texas.gov
(512) 463-9581
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