The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (Coordinating Board) adopts an amendment to §4.28, concerning Core Curriculum, without changes to the proposed text as published in the February 5, 2010, issue of the Texas Register (35 TexReg 739).

Specifically, this proposed amendment changes the portion of this rule regarding the approval of course substitutions for individual students who demonstrate evidence of a learning disability that precludes their fulfillment of the requirement through an approved core curriculum course. The change relieves Coordinating Board staff of responsibility for the review and approval of individual requests. Instead, each institution of higher education would review documented evidence and approve or deny requests for course substitutions on an individual basis.

One comment was received during the comment period.

Comment: Dallas County Community College District recommended that visual, oral, and aural physical disabilities be added to the citation in §4.28(k)(1).

Response: Because policies are already in place regarding visual, oral, and aural physical disabilities, as well as other physical disabilities, no change was made to the proposed amendment.

The amendment is adopted under the Texas Education Code, Chapter 61, Subchapter C, §61.051(j), which provides the Coordinating Board with the authority to approve courses for credit, distance education, and existing programs.