May 29, 2001
Information
Only
TO THE ADMINISTRATOR ADDRESSED:
Subject: State Board of Education Approved Innovative Courses 2001-2002 through 2003-2004
Attached are innovative courses that the State Board of Education approved on May 11, 2001.
These courses may be used for state graduation elective credit only and cannot be substituted
for state graduation required credits. Courses were approved for the 2001-2002 through 20032004 school years. When the courses expire, they will be evaluated and reconsidered for
approval.
If a district and/or campus chooses to offer any of these innovative courses that are sponsored
by organizations, the district and/or campus should work directly with the sponsoring
organization to obtain curriculum materials and/or professional development. Those courses
approved for individual school districts can only be offered by the school district for which they
were approved. Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS) numbers will be
included in the summer addendum of the Texas Education Agency Data Standards.
Please note that three organizations, Workers Assistance Program, Inc., Peer Assistance
Network of America (PAN-America) and Prevention Education Associates are approved by the
State Board of Education to provide the Peer Assistance and Leadership (PAL) Program.
Because the organizations have quality programs and are authorized to provide the innovative
course curriculum material and professional development, districts may choose any or all of the
organizations to provide services.
For more information, please contact any of the sponsoring organizations or call Hellen R.
Bedgood, Division of Curriculum and Professional Development, (512) 463-9581.
Sincerely,
David D. Anderson
Managing Director
Curriculum and Professional Development
Attachment 1 – Approved Innovative Courses
Attachment 2 – Organization Contact List
Attachment 1
Approved Innovative Courses by the State Board of Education, May 11, 2001
All courses approved shall be used for state elective credit. The following information includes course name,
course description, name of applying organization and/or school district, number of credits approved, and
number of years approved:
Advancement Via Individual Determination Program (AVID); a nationally recognized program designed to
give students who ordinarily would not be in rigorous, academic, college-preparatory classes the opportunity to
take such classes and the support necessary to succeed in them; The Charles A. Dana Center at The University
of Texas at Austin; three credits, three years; (renewal)
Bridging the Educational Scene for Teachers of Tomorrow (BESTT); a program designed to provide early
exposure to the teaching profession; Region I Education Service Center; two credits, three years; (renewal)
Integrating Student Led Community Service into the School Curriculum-Combating World Wide Iodine
Deficiency Disorder (new approval); a program to motivate and support young people, in service to their
community as a means of enriching their academic learning, promoting personal growth, and developing assets
needed for productive citizenship, Kiwanis International one credit, three years (new approval)
Peer Assistance and Leadership Program (PAL); a peer assistance program offering selected high school
students the opportunity to work as trained peer facilitators with other students on their own campuses, and/or
from feeder middle and elementary schools, Peer Assistance Network of Texas (PAN-Texas) two credits, three
years; (renewal)
Peer Assistance and Leadership Program (PAL); a vibrant, powerful, proven model of peer helping that
mobilizes the skills, energy, and unlimited potential of youth to reduce risk factors and increase resilience factors
to prevent problems; Worker’s Assistance Program, Inc. two credits, three years; (renewal)
Reconnecting Youth, A Peer Group Approach to Building Life Skills; an award-winning curriculum that has
been proven effective in helping discouraged learners to achieve in school, manage their anger, and decrease
drug use, depression, and suicide risk, Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse one-half credit, three
years; (renewal)
Service Learning; combines academics with community service in a way that benefits students, teaches civic
responsibility and strengthens communities, Olney Independent School District, one credit, three years; (new
approval)
Students Having Individual Experiences in Leadership Development (SHIELD); a course designed to train
student leaders in the various aspects of leadership, to provide regular class time for performance of tasks
associated with their positions, and to pave the way for them to use these skills later in life; Schertz-CiboloUniversal City Independent School District, two credit, three years; (renewal)
Student Leadership; a course designed to provide an opportunity for students to study, practice, and develop
group and individual leadership and organizational skills; Texas Association of Secondary School Principals
(TASSP) one-half to one credit, three years; (renewal)
Teacher Cadet; a program designed to recruit high-achieving students to select teaching as a first career
choice; Henderson Independent School District, one credit; three years (renewal)
Teen Leadership; a program in which students develop leadership, professional, and business skills;
Leadership Solutions, one-half to one credit, three years; (renewal)
Attachment 2
Innovative Course Organization Contact List
For State Board of Education Approved Innovative Courses—Approved for Districts
Acquiring Professional Development and/or Curriculum Materials
From Sponsoring Organizations
Advancement Via Individual Determination Program (AVID) (Approved May 2001)
The University of Texas at Austin
Charles A. Dana Center
2901 N. IH35, Suite 2.200
Austin, TX 78722
Contact: Dr. Charles Powell, Project Director
(512) 475-8797; FAX: (512) 232-1855 email: capowell@mail.utexas.edu
Bridging the Educational Scene for Teachers of Tomorrow (BESTT) (Approved May 2001)
Region I Education Service Center
1900 West Schunior
Edinburg, TX 78539
Contact: Annabel B. Pena
(956) 383-5611; FAX: (956) 383-3524 email: abpena@3sconett.org
PeaceMakers School Team Mediation (PEACE) (Approved May 2000)
PeaceMakers Unlimited, Inc.
2095 N. Collins Blvd., Ste. 101
Richardson, TX 75080
Contact: Susan Armonie or Debbie Wommack
(972) 671-9550 or 800-650-5247
Integrating Student Led Community Service into the School Curriculum-Combating World
Wide Iodine Deficiency Disorder (Approved May 2001)
Kiwanis International
4505 Shady Lane
Wichita Falls, Texas 76309
Contact: Phil Brooks or Sharon Nichols
(800) 766-0017
Peer Assistance and Leadership Program (PAL)
Peer Assistance Network of America (PAN-America) (Approved May 2001)
4106 Avenue F
Austin, Texas 78751
Contact: Dr. H. Grant Thomas, Jr.
(512) 450-0464
Prevention Education Associates (Approved May 1999)
7101 Hwy. 71 West, Suite #230
Austin, TX 78735
Contact: Kenneth Serrano
(512) 288-9760; FAX: (512) 288-8521
Worker’s Assistance Program, Inc. (Approved May 2001)
3410 Far West Blvd., Suite 250
Austin, Texas 78731
Contact: Terrance Cowan
(512) 343-9595; (800) 522-0550 FAX: (512) 328-7384
(Page 2—Innovative Course Contact List Continued)
Reconnecting Youth, A Peer Group Approach to Building Life Skills (Approved May 2001)
Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse
P.O. Box 89529
Austin, Texas 78708
Contact: Penny Harmonson
(512) 349-6651
Student Leadership (Approved May 2001)
Texas Association of Secondary School Principals (TASSP)
1833 South IH 35
Austin, TX 78741
Contact: J.J. Colburn
(512) 443-2100; FAX: (512) 442-3343
Teen Leadership (Approved May 2001)
Leadership Solutions
1199 Haywood Drive
College Station, Texas 77845
Contact: Matthew A. Flippen or M. B. Flippen
(800) 316-4311; FAX: (409) 693-8458