SECTION 50.4. Commission Approval of Classroom-Based Course of Instruction

(a) Each classroom-based school must provide a course of instruction using the content and sequence of topics contained in the mandatory curriculum. Subject to the requirements of subsection (c) of this section, the course of instruction may include optional material.

(b) All classroom-based training materials and courses of instruction must be submitted to the commission for approval.

(1) A classroom-based course of instruction must be paced to provide a minimum of 120 minutes of active instruction and student participation in the mandatory curriculum.

(2) The 120-minute requirement excludes time taken for breaks and the administration of the Commission Standard Competence Test.

(3) The 120-minute requirement is based on a 6th grade comprehension and reading skills level.

(4) The commission must approve a course of instruction before it can be offered by a school.

(c) Upon approval by the commission, a classroom-based school may present a course of instruction including optional material in addition to the mandatory curriculum if:

(1) a request for approval of the optional material is submitted to the commission, with any alteration of the mandatory curriculum and all optional materials clearly identified;

(2) the entire proposed course of instruction is submitted with the request, showing the sequence in which the mandatory curriculum and the optional material will be presented;

(3) the optional material will not alter the scope or effectiveness of the mandatory curriculum; and

(4) additional time is added to the course of instruction to ensure that 120 minutes are devoted entirely to the mandatory curriculum.

(d) A classroom-based school must file a revised course of instruction implementing a change to the mandatory curriculum within 30 days after receiving notice of the change.

Source Note: The provisions of this §50.4 adopted to be effective January 1, 2011, 35 TexReg 7054; amended to be effective June 14, 2023, 48 TexReg 2939