The State Board of Education (SBOE) proposes new §74.35, concerning additional requirements for high school health classes. The proposed new section would require school districts and open-enrollment charter schools to incorporate instruction in parenting awareness into any course meeting a requirement for a health education credit, using the materials approved by the SBOE.

House Bill 2176, 80th Texas Legislature, 2007, added Texas Education Code, §28.002(p), which requires the SBOE, in conjunction with the Office of the Attorney General, to develop a parenting and paternity awareness program that school districts will be required to use in the high school health curriculum. This program must address parenting skills and responsibilities, including child support and other legal rights and relationship skills, including money management, communication skills, and marriage preparation. In high schools that do not have a family violence prevention program, skills relating to the prevention of family violence must be included.

The proposed new 19 TAC §74.35, Additional Requirements for High School Health Classes, would outline school district and open-enrollment charter school requirements for implementation of this program. The proposed new rule would establish that SBOE-approved materials must be used, specify that local school health advisory councils must assist in ensuring that local community values are reflected in the district's health instruction, stipulate that school districts may add elements but must include specific areas of instruction, address instances where health education credit courses are taken prior to Grade 9, and establish that the requirements begin with the 2008-2009 school year.

It is anticipated that the SBOE-approved materials for the parenting and paternity awareness program will be provided to school districts at no charge.

Sharon Jackson, deputy associate commissioner for standards and alignment, has determined that, for the first five-year period the proposed new section is in effect, there will be no fiscal implications for state or local government as a result of enforcing or administering the new section.

Dr. Jackson has determined that, for each year of the first five years the proposed new section, is in effect the public benefit anticipated as a result of enforcing the new section would include additional resources to be used in teaching students about parenting. There will be no effect on small businesses. There is no anticipated economic cost to persons who are required to comply with the proposed new section.

Comments on the proposal may be submitted to Cristina De La Fuente-Valadez, Policy Coordination Division, Texas Education Agency, 1701 North Congress Avenue, Austin, Texas 78701, (512) 475-1497. Comments may also be submitted electronically to rules@tea.state.tx.us or faxed to (512) 463-0028. All requests for a public hearing on the proposed new section submitted under the Administrative Procedure Act must be received by the commissioner of education not more than 15 calendar days after notice of the proposal has been published in the Texas Register.

The new section is proposed under the Texas Education Code, §28.002(p), as added by House Bill 2176, 80th Texas Legislature, 2007, which authorizes the SBOE, in conjunction with the Office of the Attorney General, to develop a parenting and paternity awareness program that a school district shall use in the district's high school health curriculum.

The proposed new section implements the Texas Education Code, §28.002(p).