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SBOE adopts changes to graduation requirements

When the Legislature passed a law during the spring special session requiring students who enter 9th grade in fall 2007 to take a fourth year of math and science in order to graduate under the recommended and distinguished achievement programs, the task of determining which courses would satisfy the requirements was left to the State Board of Education (SBOE). In a final vote on Nov. 17, 2006, the SBOE completed the task, making revisions to the recommended and distinguished achievement programs, which included:

Under the recommended plan:

  • The fourth math credit must be selected from a list of SBOE-approved math courses, which range from Math Models to Pre-Calculus; however, Math Models cannot be taken after Algebra II. Much of the debate centered around whether Math Models should remain as an option, as some questioned whether it is a rigorous enough course. Despite intense pressure from legislative leadership and some factions of the business community to eliminate Math Models and require Pre-Calculus or other courses for which Algebra II is a prerequisite, the board listened to numerous educators who testified that, if taught correctly, Math Models was a rigorous course that served as a useful bridge between Geometry and Algebra II, and that it was unrealistic to eliminate it, leaving students with only Pre-Calculus and several other Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses as options.
  • Regarding the fourth science credit, again the board withstood pressure from business factions to eliminate Integrated Physics and Chemistry (IPC) as an option, and require that all students take Physics, Chemistry, Biology and a fourth approved lab-based science course.  The board was particularly swayed by testimony from educators who enthusiastically defended the merits of IPC. Although the SBOE voted in September to phase out IPC, after hearing more testimony, the board scrapped those plans and voted to allow it to remain permanently.

Under the distinguished achievement program:

  • The fourth math credit must be a SBOE-approved math course for which Algebra II is a prerequisite (Pre-Calculus, Independent Study, AP/IB math courses or a dual enrollment class on the college level).
  • The fourth science credit must be selected from a list of SBOE-approved lab-based science courses.

The SBOE also voted to increase the credit requirements for graduation under the recommended and distinguished achievement programs from 24 to 26 credits to allow students to take electives such as fine arts and physical education. Under the plan, 7th and 8th grade students will still be allowed to take Algebra I to fulfill the first credit of the four-credit requirement.

Under current law, students may opt out of the recommended and distinguished achievement plans and pursue the minimum graduation plan, with parental and school approval.

TRS fund continues to improve; still needs infusion of money to afford benefit increases

Each year, the TRS pension fund is subject to an actuarial valuation--a look at its long-term fiscal status--and figures made available this fall show improvement, with the actuarial firm predicting that (assuming continued economic growth) the fund should be in a pattern of increasing good health.

For the last several years, the fund has been technically underfunded, though basically still actuarially sound, largely because of severe investment losses from the early 2000s. As a result, the fund could not afford benefit increases for current retirees; it has now been nearly six years since retirees saw an increase in their monthly annuities.

Now that the economy and investment returns have improved, the system is beginning to recover and is closer to being able to afford a benefit increase. Many legislators are supportive of an increase in the state’s contribution rate to improve the system’s funding status. However, this good news is tempered by the realization that even if the state chose to increase its contribution rate to an oft-mentioned level of 7.02%, a benefit proposal would require additional funding either through further increases in the contribution rate or an appropriation from the state. It is important to note that the Legislature could choose to directly fund a “thirteenth check” benefit increase for retirees without increasing the state’s contribution rate to TRS; such a proposal would cost the state $450 million.

TCTA strongly supports an increase in retiree benefits and believes that the state should increase its contribution rate now that such an increase is warranted, as was the expectation when legislators lowered the contribution rate to the constitutional minimum of 6% nearly 12 years ago. In the upcoming session, TCTA will advocate for these increases, and will work to reverse the negative changes in benefits adopted in 2005 that affect active employees.

TCTA voices concerns about SBEC investigative notice

TCTA testified before the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) in November regarding proposed rule changes that would allow SBEC to place an investigative warning on the virtual certificates of educators who are being investigated by SBEC following accusations of misconduct. The proposed rule would codify the current practice of SBEC staff, which is to place an investigative notice on the certification records of many educators at the beginning of an investigation. TCTA initially brought this issue to SBEC’s attention in 2004 by filing a Petition for Adoption of a Rule, requesting that it regulate this practice.

TCTA testified that it understands SBEC’s need to warn the public about educators who may pose a risk to others. However, that need must be balanced against the right of an educator to due process prior to the imposition of any sanction or limitation on the educator’s certification records. TCTA testified that the rule should specify that only those educators who have been accused of the most serious kinds of misconduct, such as physical or sexual abuse of a child, should receive an investigative notice. Educators who have been accused of minor types of offenses should not receive an investigative notice.

TCTA’s testimony was well-received by SBEC and we look forward to further positive discussions regarding this issue. SBEC has indicated that it intends to review and possibly amend other rules related to its investigative process in the near future, and TCTA intends to work closely with the agency to ensure that those rules provide educators access to a fair and balanced investigative process.

Keep SBEC informed of your whereabouts

Be sure to keep the SBEC informed of your current contact information, so that you don’t miss out on important communications from your licensing agency. In some cases, the stakes are high: SBEC reports that out-of-date contact information may make it difficult to provide educators with information regarding professional education and certificate renewal requirements. Failure to properly renew your certificate in accordance with SBEC’s rules could jeopardize your certification status and your employment as a professional educator. To update your contact information, call SBEC at (888) 863-5880 or visit the SBEC Web site at http://www.sbec.state.tx.us/SBECOnline/about/contact.asp.

The Classroom Teacher, Winter 2006

Archive of other TCTA Publications

THE CLASSROOM TEACHER (ISSN-0279-2494) is the official publication of the Texas Classroom Teachers Association (TCTA), providing news and opinions in the interest of education excellence. All contents are copyrighted and may not be reproduced without the publisher’s permission. The views and opinions contained in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher. Copyright © 2006. Publication schedule is quarterly. Annual membership dues for TCTA are $110, $5 of which is allocated to a one-year subscription to THE CLASSROOM TEACHER. Subscriptions for nonmembers are available for $10 per year.