Innovative Courses

Contact Information

Curriculum Standards and Student Support

Texas Education Agency
1701 North Congress Avenue
Austin, TX 78701-1401 
Curriculum Standards and Student Support Division
 

For questions or additional information, please submit a Curriculum Request Form through the

 TEA Help Desk.

(512) 463-9581 

School districts may offer state-approved innovative courses to enable students to master knowledge, skills, and competencies not included in the essential knowledge and skills of the required curriculum (Texas Administrative Code [TAC] Section 74.27). The State Board of Education (SBOE) may approve discipline-based courses in the foundation or enrichment curriculum and courses that do not fall within any of these subject areas when the applying school district or organization demonstrates that the proposed course is academically rigorous and addresses documented student needs.

School districts and open-enrollment charters that wish to offer an approved innovative high school course are encouraged to reference the Innovative Course Implementation section of this webpage.

Stakeholders who are interested in submitting an application for a new innovative high school course are encouraged to reference the Innovative Course Application and Approval section of this webpage.

Authors of expiring innovative courses who have been invited to renew are also encouraged to reference the Innovative Course Application and Approval section of this webpage.

Application Materials and Supporting Documents

The 2026–2027 application window is closed.

The following application materials were made available during the 2026-2027 cycle for new courses:

The following application materials were used during the 2026-2027 cycle for renewals:

Application Timeline for the 2026–2027 Cycle

The State Board of Education (SBOE) is expected to review the rules regarding innovative courses (19 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) §74.27 Innovative Courses and Programs) at its November 2025 meeting. As a result, the innovative course application process has been paused.

 

Innovative Course Sunset Review Process

At its November 2023 meeting, the State Board of Education (SBOE) amended the 19 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) §74.27 the innovative courses rules to establish a sunset review of innovative courses that meet certain criteria. TEA’s Curriculum Standards and Student Support Division has generated a sunset list of all innovative courses that meet the criteria. The next sunset review will occur during the Spring of 2026.

Sunset Report Rules

The following rules were adopted by the State Board of Education (SBOE) regarding the criteria of generating the biennial sunset review of existing innovative courses:

Texas Education Agency shall review all approved innovative courses once every two years and provide for consideration for sunset a list of innovative courses that have been approved as an innovative course for at least three years and meet one of the following criteria:   

  • Zero enrollment for the previous two years
  • Average enrollment of less than 100 students statewide for the previous three years
  • Student enrollment at an average of fewer than 20 districts or charter schools statewide for the previous three years
  • Duplicative of another innovative or TEKS-based course
  • Approved for implementation as a TEKS-based course

Questions related to innovative courses may be directed to the Curriculum Standards and Student Support Division by submitting a TEA help desk ticket or contacting the innovative course inbox at innovative.courses@tea.texas.gov.