Guidelines for Evaluation of Innovative Courses and Programs Approved Under 19 Tac, Chapter 74

December 23, 2002

TO THE ADMINISTRATOR ADDRESSED:

Subject: Innovative Course Application and Evaluation Forms

Attached are application and evaluation forms for innovative course approvals. A school district may develop innovative or other locally-designed courses to enable students to master knowledge, skills, and competencies not included in the required curriculum (19 TAC §74.27).

Before you decide to apply for an innovative course approval, please review the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) to be sure that an innovative course approval is needed. You may find that one of the TEKS courses will meet your needs. Since the process to adopt the TEKS took more than three years and involved input from thousands of Texans, the need for a number of innovative courses that do not meet the required curriculum should be limited.

If you wish to submit an application for approval of a new innovative course to be taught in
Fall 2003, or an evaluation of a course that is currently approved, please submit your application or evaluation by February 13, 2003. An evaluation of each course currently approved for individual school districts must be submitted during the last year of approval. Courses approved by the State Board of Education (SBOE) and sponsored by approved organizations will be evaluated by the sponsoring organizations. School districts will not need to submit evaluations of the SBOE-approved statewide courses. Please note that requests for innovative course approvals are allowable under current SBOE rule. These requests do not require waivers of law or rule. Please do not submit requests for approval to the Waiver Unit.

Requests for approval of innovative courses that do not fall within any of the subject areas in the required curriculum will be reviewed by the SBOE in May 2003. The Board must find that a proposed innovative course is academically rigorous and addresses documented student needs.

If you have questions about requesting approval of an innovative course in Career and Technology Education, please call 512/463-9311. For questions about Technology Applications, please call 512/463-9400. For questions about subject areas in the remainder of the required curriculum, please call 512/463-9581.

Sincerely,

Ann Smisko

Associate Commissioner

Curriculum, Assessment, and Technology

Attachments

Fall 2003Curriculum and Professional Development

New Course

Division of Curriculum and Professional Development

Transmittal Form for Innovative Course and Program ApprovalRenewal and Evaluation

(Deadline: February 13, 2003)

Evaluation Only

(1) (2)

District Name County/District Number

(3)

Mailing Address, City, Zip Code

(4) Name of superintendent

(5) Contact person

(6) Phone number for contact person

(7) Date of local board of trustees approval

(8)Innovative courses submitted for approval:

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d) ______

(e)

The innovative course application should be submitted to:

David D. Anderson, Managing Director

Attn: Hellen R. Bedgood, Assistant Curriculum Director

Curriculum and Professional Development

Texas Education Agency

1701 N. Congress Avenue

Austin, TX 78701-1494

Phone: 512/463-9581

FAX: 512/463-8057

Please submit your application at least six months prior to implementation.

For Fall 2003 implementation, please submit your application by February 13, 2003.

Fall 2003Curriculum and Professional Development

Innovative Course Application Form

(1)Course Title

(2) District Name

(3) Course Requirements:

Description of the course and its essential knowledge and skills

Rationale and justification for the request in terms of student need

Description of activities, major resources, and materials to be used

Methods for evaluating student outcomes

Qualifications of teachers

Amount of credit requested

School years for which approval is requested

NOTE: To request approval from the State Board of Education or the commissioner of education, the school district or organization must submit a request for approval at least six months before planned implementation.

Fall 2003Curriculum and Professional Development

Must Be Completed for Renewal of Innovative Courses That Expire 2002-2003

GUIDELINES FOR EVALUATION AND RENEWAL OF APPROVED

INNOVATIVE COURSES AND PROGRAMS APPROVED UNDER

19 TEXAS ADMINISTRATIVE CODE, CHAPTER 74

In order for innovative course approvals to be renewed, school districts must submit evaluations of expiring innovative courses during the last year of approval. Courses expiring at the end of the 2002-2003 school year were approved beginning September 1, 2000, and school districts were informed by letter during the approval process regarding expiration dates of course approvals. It is understood that the courses may not be readily evaluated using traditional means such as achievement tests. The evaluation of these courses must parallel the application for approval of the program and is due no later than the last year of operation. The application is required to address the following sections of 19 Texas Administrative Code, Section 74.27 (a):

Innovative courses for which a district wishes to award state elective credit must have prior approval of the commissioner of education or the State Board of Education. At least six months prior to implementation, the district shall submit a request for approval which includes:

description of the course and its essential knowledge and skills;
rationale and justification for the request in terms of student need;
description of activities, major resources, and materials to be used;
methods for evaluating student outcomes;
qualifications of the teacher;
amount of credit requested; and
school years for which approval is requested.

The following is a set of recommended procedures for evaluating each of these points; however, the suggestions may not be appropriate for each program. This list is by no means exhaustive, since districts and/or organizations should utilize whatever procedures are appropriate to a particular course. Districts should use as many sources of information as possible when evaluating their programs and should not necessarily be limited to the components included in their applications.

I.Description of the course and its essential knowledge and skills:

(a) Has the content of the course or the essential knowledge and skills changed?

Analysis of essential knowledge and skills taught or included in course

outlines

Teacher questionnaires and interviews

(b) Have the general goals of the course changed?

II. Rationale and justification for the request in terms of student need:

(a)Did the anticipated number of students enroll in the course?

1.Counts of students enrolled and completing the course

2.Survey of numbers of students wanting to enroll

(b)Has the requirement for the special course changed?

1.Teacher and administrator surveys

2.Student surveys

Development of similar courses

III.Description of activities, major resources, and materials to be used:

(a)Were the materials anticipated used or were more materials needed?

1.Teacher interviews

2.Examination of materials assigned for study

3.Student interviews

(b)Was the space sufficient for the activities planned?

1.Visits to classrooms during activities

2.Teacher interviews

1.Analysis of amount of material covered

2.Teacher and student interviews

3.Analysis of outcome measures

(d) Was the program implemented as anticipated?

1.Classroom visits

2.Teacher interviews

IV.Methods for evaluating student outcomes:

(a)Objective information

1.Achievement tests

Criterion-referenced tests
Participation counts in activities planned

(b)Subjective information (opinion surveys)

1. Teacher questionnaires

2. Student questionnaires

3. Parental questionnaires

V.Qualifications of the teacher:

(a)Were the teacher qualifications stated in the application appropriate?

(b)List any changes that are needed.

VI.Amount of credit requested.

VII.School years for which approval is requested:

(a)Is there a need to continue this course?

(b)Is there a need to change or extend the school years outlined in the course approval?

The innovative course evaluation should be submitted to:

David D. Anderson, Managing Director

Attn: Hellen R. Bedgood, Assistant Curriculum Director

Division of Curriculum and Professional Development

Texas Education Agency

1701 North Congress Avenue

Austin, TX78701-1494

Phone:512/463-9581

Fax:512/463-8057

Email:

19 TAC Chapter 74. Curriculum Requirements

§74.27. Innovative Courses and Programs.

(a)A school district may develop innovative or other locally-designed courses to enable students to master knowledge, skills, and competencies not included in the essential knowledge and skills of the required curriculum.

(1)The State Board of Education (SBOE) may approve any course that does not fall within any of the subject areas listed in the foundation and enrichment curricula when the applicant school district or organization demonstrates that the proposed course is academically rigorous and addresses documented student needs.

(2)The commissioner of education may approve a discipline-based course in the foundation or enrichment curriculum when the applicant school district or organization demonstrates that the proposed course is academically challenging and addresses documented student needs.

(3)To request approval from the SBOE or the commissioner of education, the school district or organization must submit a request for approval, at least six months before planned implementation, that includes:

(A)a description of the course and its essential knowledge and skills;

(B)the rationale and justification for the request in terms of student need;

(C)a description of activities, major resources, and materials to be used;

(D)the methods of evaluating student outcomes;

(E)the qualifications of the teacher;

(F)the amount of credit requested; and

(G)the school years for which approval is requested.

(b)A school district may operate a magnet program, academy, or other innovative program to serve student populations with specialized interests and aptitudes. A program that does not meet all applicable requirements of this chapter must be approved by the SBOE. A district seeking approval for magnet courses under this subsection must apply in writing to the commissioner of education. The district's request must include the same information as that specified in subsection (a) of this section for a request for approval of an innovative course.

Fall 2003Curriculum and Professional Development