August 19, 2003
TO THE ADMINISTRATOR ADDRESSED:
Information Only
Subject: State Board of Education Approved Innovative Courses 2003-2004 through 2005-2006
Attached are innovative courses that the State Board of Education approved on July 11, 2003.
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 2003-2004 through 20052006 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 materials 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 at (512) 463-9581.
Sincerely,
Janet Russell, Ed.D.
Curriculum Director
Curriculum and Professional Development
Attachment 1 – Approved Innovative Courses
Attachment 2 – Organization Contact List
ATTACHMENT 1
Innovative Courses Recommended for Approval
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 requested, and
number of years recommended for approval:
Changing Lives (new approval); curriculum designed to develop attitudinal skills in the following areas:
qualities of character, attitude, responsibility, self-image, leadership, goals, love, persistence, and success;
Mark1; 1 credit, 3 years;
Management Internship Program (renewal); an internship program offered to Grade 12 students who either
rank in the top 25% of their class or have at least a 3.0 GPA allowing them to experience the benefit and
guidance of mentors in business, industry, philanthropy, government, public institutions, and the arts; Austin
Independent School District; 1½ units of credit, 3 years;
ONWARD (hOnesty, iNtegrity, Working together, cAring, Responsibility, self-Discipline) (renewal);
prepares student leaders in basic techniques and skills of leadership, organizational structures and styles, group
processing, and personal development; Ysleta Independent School District; 1-2 credits; 3 years;
Peace I and II (formerly PeaceMakers School Team Mediation) (renewal); a curriculum-based, peer
mediation program that offers students the skills to resolve their own conflicts long before allowing them to
escalate into violent acts toward each other; Pax United (formerly PeaceMakers Unlimited, Inc.); 1-2 credits; 3
years;
Service Learning (renewal); combines academics with community service in a way that benefits students,
teaches civic responsibility, leadership, and builds abilities and competencies, and strengthens communities;
American YouthWorks Charter School; ½ - 1 credit, 3 years;
StrengthBank for High Schools: A Relationship Skills Initiative (new approval); curriculum designed to
enhance inborn talents through personal leadership training and to develop relationship skill building attributes
through targeted activities and projects, to teach and learn life-long character skills based upon the StrengthBank
workout formula that enables students to be successful, to decrease discipline referrals, and to help enable
students to become productive citizens; StrengthBank, Inc.; ½ - 4 credits, 3 years; and
Striving Together Achieving Reading Stardom (STARS) (renewal); a recognized tutoring program that
builds a foundation for future teachers and is offered for high school seniors to work with elementary school
students to assist in reading instruction; Boerne Independent School District; ½ - 1 credit, 3 years.
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 I, II, III Approved May 2001
and AVID IV (Approved May 2002)
The University of Texas at Austin
Charles A. Dana Center
2901 N. IH35, Suite 2.200
Austin, Texas 78722
Contact: Dr. Charles Powell, Project Director
(512) 475-8797; FAX: (512) 232-1855; email: capowell@mail.utexas.edu
Bridging the Education Scene for Teachers of Tomorrow (BESTT) Approved May 2001)
Region 1 Education Service Center
1900 West Schunior
Edinburg, Texas 78539
Contact: Annabel B. Pena
(956) 984-6100 / FAX: (956) 984-6019; e-mail: abpena@esconett.org
Changing Lives (Approved July 2003)
Dennis Parker, Executive Director dennisp@mark1.org
Mark1
P.O. Box 978
Litchfield, Minnesota 55355
(800) 932-7235 (320) 693-2449
Coca-Cola Valued Youth Program (Approved May 2002)
Intercultural Development Research Association (IDRA)
5835 Callaghan Road, Suite 350
San Antonio, Texas 78228
Contact: Linda Cantu, Project Director
(210) 444-1710 / FAX: (210) 444-1714
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
Leadership Impact (Approved May 2002)
Rodney D. Walker & Associates
1101 Navasota Street, Suite 1
Austin, Texas 78702
(800) 484-2654, Code 5620
Peace I & II (formerly PeaceMakers School Team Mediation (PEACE) (Approved July 2003)
PAX United (PeaceMakers Unlimited, Inc.)
2095 N. Collins Blvd., Suite 101
Richardson, Texas 75080
Contact: Susan Armonie or Debbie Wommack
(972) 671-9550 or (800) 650-5247
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 2002)
7101 Hwy. 71 West, Suite #230
Austin, Texas 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
Reconnecting Youth, A Peer Group Approach to Building Life Skills (Approved May 2001)
Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse
P.O. Box 80529
Austin, Texas 78708
Contact: Alice Day
(512) 349-6620 FAX: (512) 821-4429
StrengthBank for High Schools: A Relationship Skills Initiative (Approved July 2003)
Sandra A. Shelton, President/CEO www.strengthbankinc.org
6008 Welch
Fort Worth, Texas 76133-3635
(800) 206-8380 Fax: (817) 423-0390; email: strengthbank_inc@strengthbank.com
Student Leadership (Approved May 2001)
Texas Association of Secondary School Principals (TASSP)
1833 South IH 35
Austin, Texas 78741
Contact: J.J. Colburn
(512) 443-2100 FAX: (512) 442-3343
Teen Leadership (Approved May 2001)
The Flippen Group
1199 Haywood Drive
College Station, Texas 77845
Contact: Matthew A. Flippen or M.B. Flippen
(800) 316-4311 FAX: (979) 693-8458