QUESTION CONCERNING AP HISTORY CURRICULUM:

“Urgent: AP US History Framework Tied to Common Core – Illegal in Texas”

By Donna Garner

6.22.14

The AP U. S. History (APUSH) Framework as explained in the four links below should give all of us in Texas (as well as all Americans) real cause for alarm.  Larry Krieger is a retired APUSH teacher who currently teaches test-preparation courses, Larry is an expert on all aspects of this issue. The APUSH is set to hit our Texas public schools this fall. The time is very short to take action.  Below the links, I have included excerpts from the Texas Education Code.

I have gone through the Texas Education Code (TEC), Title 2, Subtitle F, Ch. 28, Subchapter A, Sec. 28.001. From what I have found, there is nothing in the TEC that says students who take Advanced Placement are exempt from the mandates of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS - the Texas curriculum standards).  On the other hand, it clearly states all Texas public school students (K-12) are to be held accountable to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills as stated below:

Sec. 28.001.  PURPOSE.  It is the intent of the legislature that the essential knowledge and skills developed by the State Board of Education under this subchapter shall require all students to demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to read, write, compute, problem solve, think critically, apply technology, and communicate across all subject areas.  The essential knowledge and skills shall also prepare and enable all students to continue to learn in postsecondary educational, training, or employment settings.

(b)  The State Board of Education by rule shall designate subjects constituting a well-balanced curriculum to be offered by a school district that does not offer kindergarten through grade 12.

Therefore, I see nothing in the Texas Education Code (unless I missed it) that would free AP U. S. History students from being held accountable to the SBOE-approved TEKS.  In fact, I believe a good case could be made that the College Board’s new AP U. S. History Framework (produced by David Coleman as president of The College Board who has clearly said that all AP products will align with the Common Core) is illegal in Texas.

Donna Garner

Wgarner1@hot.rr.com

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LINKS TO AP US HISTORY FRAMEWORK ARTICLES

http://news.heartland.org/newspaper-article/2014/03/26/new-advanced-placement-framework-distorts-americas-history

http://news.heartland.org/newspaper-article/2014/04/09/yes-new-ap-framework-does-distort-us-history

http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2014/05/28/The-College-Boards-Attack-on-American-History

http://news.heartland.org/newspaper-article/2014/05/05/new-ap-us-history-exam-providing-opportunities-indoctrination

http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/DocViewer.aspx?DocKey=ED%2fED.28&Phrases=%22STATE+BOARD+OF+EDUCATION%22&HighlightType=1&ExactPhrase=True&QueryText=%22STATE+BOARD+OF+EDUCATION%22

EDUCATION CODE 

TITLE 2. PUBLIC EDUCATION

SUBTITLE F. CURRICULUM, PROGRAMS, AND SERVICES

CHAPTER 28. COURSES OF STUDY;  ADVANCEMENT

SUBCHAPTER A. ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS;  CURRICULUM

Sec. 28.001.  PURPOSE.  It is the intent of the legislature that the essential knowledge and skills developed by the State Board of Education under this subchapter shall require all students to demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to read, write, compute, problem solve, think critically, apply technology, and communicate across all subject areas.  The essential knowledge and skills shall also prepare and enable all students to continue to learn in postsecondary educational, training, or employment settings.

Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 260, Sec. 1, eff. May 30, 1995.

(b)  The State Board of Education by rule shall designate subjects constituting a well-balanced curriculum to be offered by a school district that does not offer kindergarten through grade 12.

(b-1)  In this section, "common core state standards" means the national curriculum standards developed by the Common Core State Standards Initiative.

(b-2)  The State Board of Education may not adopt common core state standards to comply with a duty imposed under this chapter.

(b-3)  A school district may not use common core state standards to comply with the requirement to provide instruction in the essential knowledge and skills at appropriate grade levels under Subsection (c).

(b-4)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, a school district or open-enrollment charter school may not be required to offer any aspect of a common core state standards curriculum.

(c)  The State Board of Education, with the direct participation of educators, parents, business and industry representatives, and employers shall by rule identify the essential knowledge and skills of each subject of the required curriculum that all students should be able to demonstrate and that will be used in evaluating instructional materials under Chapter 31 and addressed on the assessment instruments required under Subchapter B, Chapter 39.  As a condition of accreditation, the board shall require each district to provide instruction in the essential knowledge and skills at appropriate grade levels and to make available to each high school student in the district an Algebra II course.

(h) The State Board of Education and each school district shall foster the continuation of the tradition of teaching United States and Texas history and the free enterprise system in regular subject matter and in reading courses and in the adoption of instructional materials. A primary purpose of the public school curriculum is to prepare thoughtful, active citizens who understand the importance of patriotism and can function productively in a free enterprise society with appreciation for the basic democratic values of our state and national heritage.

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Donna Garner

wgarner@hot.rr.com