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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the operation by a school district of a vocational |
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education program to provide eligible high school students with |
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vocational and educational training under a plan for the issuance |
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of a high school diploma and the application of certain |
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student-based allotments under the public school finance system. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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ARTICLE 1. VOCATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS |
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SECTION 1.01. Subtitle F, Title 2, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Chapter 30B to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 30B. VOCATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS |
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Sec. 30B.001. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "board" means |
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the State Board of Education. |
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Sec. 30B.002. PURPOSE. The purpose of a vocational |
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education program operated under this chapter and authorized as a |
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campus or campus program under a charter granted under Subchapter |
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C, Chapter 12, is to provide public education to high school |
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students whose educational needs are better served by focused |
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vocational education and training. |
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Sec. 30B.003. VOCATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAM. (a) Each |
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vocational education program granted a charter under Subchapter C, |
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Chapter 12, and operating under this chapter shall offer students |
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who reside in the district a program that is aligned with: |
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(1) industry-recognized credentials and certificates |
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included in the inventory required by Section 29.189; or |
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(2) industry-defined and industry-recognized skill |
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standards developed under Section 2308.109, Government Code. |
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(b) The board shall establish minimum curriculum |
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requirements for a vocational education program operated under this |
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chapter. In providing curriculum requirements, the board shall |
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require the successful completion of not more than 24 credits for |
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graduation and the issuance of a diploma under Section 30B.004. Not |
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less than 10 credits of the minimum curriculum requirements must be |
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credits earned in vocational education courses offered under the |
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program. |
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(c) A vocational education program may require the |
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completion of additional credits that are not included in the |
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minimum curriculum requirements established by the board, as |
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requirements for graduation and the issuance of a diploma under |
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Section 30B.004 provided that the program does not require the |
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successful completion of more than 24 credits. |
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(d) In providing the minimum curriculum requirements under |
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Subsection (b), the board shall require: |
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(1) one-half credit in a course that provides |
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instruction in the basic knowledge and skills necessary to: |
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(A) successfully run an independent business; |
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and |
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(B) develop entrepreneurship; |
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(2) one-half credit in a course providing instruction |
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regarding the relationship between business and government; and |
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(3) one-half credit in a course in industrial arts. |
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(e) The board by rule may provide curriculum standards for |
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the courses described by Subsection (d). |
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(f) The board by rule shall allow for a student to satisfy |
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the one-half credit requirement for a course described by: |
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(1) Subsection (d)(2) by earning one-half credit for a |
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course in government offered under the foundation high school |
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program; and |
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(2) Subsection (d)(3) by earning one-half credit for a |
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course in fine arts offered under the foundation high school |
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program. |
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(g) The board by rule may require that one or more courses |
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described by Subsection (d) or (f) provide basic instruction in |
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technical writing. |
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(h) In offering a vocational education program under this |
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chapter, a school district may form partnerships between the |
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district and public junior colleges, public technical institutes, |
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public state colleges, and any other public postsecondary |
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institutions in this state offering academic or technical education |
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or vocational training under a certificate program or an associate |
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degree program. |
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(i) A school district may use state funding received under |
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Chapter 48 that is available for the purpose to pay tuition costs |
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for district students enrolled in the district's vocational |
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education program and receiving academic or technical education or |
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vocational training from a college or institution under a |
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partnership entered into under Subsection (h). |
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Sec. 30B.004. VOCATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA. |
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Notwithstanding any other law, agency rule, or school district |
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policy, a student who successfully completes the course |
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requirements for a district's vocational education program is |
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entitled to receive a high school diploma from the district in |
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accordance with commissioner rules concerning high school |
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graduation requirements for students obtaining a high school |
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diploma under a district's vocational education program. |
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Sec. 30B.005. ENROLLMENT ELIGIBILITY. A student is |
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eligible to enroll in a school district's vocational education |
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program if: |
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(1) the district has received the form indicating |
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informed consent for the student under Section 30B.006; and |
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(2) the student attends a high school campus of the |
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district and has completed the student's 10th grade year. |
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Sec. 30B.006. INFORMED CONSENT. (a) Before a student may |
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enroll in a school district's vocational education program, the |
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student and the student's parent, guardian, or other person |
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standing in parental relation to the student must be advised by a |
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school counselor concerning: |
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(1) specific benefits of graduating under the |
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foundation high school program established under Section 28.025; |
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(2) specific benefits of graduating under a vocational |
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education program with a diploma and earning industry-recognized |
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credentials through the program; |
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(3) the differences between the curriculum |
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requirements for obtaining a diploma under a vocational education |
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program and the curriculum requirements for obtaining a diploma |
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under the foundation high school program, including specific |
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foundation high school program courses that will be replaced by |
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vocational education program courses; and |
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(4) the number of additional credits that may be |
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required to graduate under the foundation high school program if |
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the student chooses to cease participation in a vocational |
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education program and resume participation in the foundation high |
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school program. |
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(b) After receiving the required counseling described by |
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Subsection (a), the student's parent, guardian, or other person |
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standing in parental relation to the student may provide written |
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permission for the student to enroll in the school district's |
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vocational education program, on a form adopted by the agency, to |
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the school counselor. |
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Sec. 30B.007. ASSESSMENT INSTRUMENTS. (a) A school |
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district may adopt and administer assessment instruments necessary |
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for a student enrolled in the district's vocational education |
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program to earn an industry-recognized license, credential, or |
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certificate. |
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(b) Notwithstanding any other law, the commissioner may not |
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require that a student enrolled in a district's vocational |
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education program be administered an assessment instrument under |
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Section 39.023 that is not required to be administered to the |
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student under federal law. |
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(c) The commissioner may not waive the application of |
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Subsection (b) under Section 7.056 or any other law. This |
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subsection does not prohibit the commissioner from waiving the |
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administration of assessment instruments otherwise required to be |
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administered to students under federal law, in accordance with |
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waiver authority granted to the commissioner by the United States |
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Department of Education. |
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Sec. 30B.008. EXAM SUBSIDY. A student enrolled in a school |
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district's vocational education program is entitled to an exam |
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subsidy for an exam administered under Section 30B.007 that |
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qualifies the student for an industry-recognized license, |
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credential, or certificate. |
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Sec. 30B.009. ACHIEVEMENT INDICATORS. (a) The |
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commissioner shall adopt a set of achievement indicators for school |
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district students enrolled in a district's vocational education |
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program based on recommendations provided by the Texas Workforce |
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Investment Council. |
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(b) The achievement indicators adopted by the commissioner |
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must measure outcomes for a school district's vocational education |
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program with respect to: |
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(1) preparing students for success in: |
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(A) achieving industry-recognized licenses, |
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credentials, and certificates; |
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(B) training in postsecondary occupational |
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programs; and |
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(C) entering the workforce; |
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(2) reducing outcome differentials among students |
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from different racial and ethnic groups and socioeconomic |
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backgrounds; and |
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(3) informing parents and employers regarding the |
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performance of school district vocational education programs and |
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students who enroll in those programs. |
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(c) Each school district that operates a vocational |
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education program under this chapter shall submit to the |
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commissioner all relevant information the commissioner determines |
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necessary to evaluate the district's vocational education program |
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based on the achievement indicators adopted under this section. |
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(d) The commissioner shall annually publish a report on the |
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performance of vocational education programs operated under this |
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chapter based on the achievement indicators. |
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Sec. 30B.010. MINIMUM INSTRUCTOR QUALIFICATIONS. (a) A |
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person employed by a school district as a vocational education |
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instructor of a district's vocational education program must have |
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demonstrated subject matter expertise related to the subject |
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taught, including: |
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(1) professional work experience; |
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(2) formal training and education; |
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(3) holding a relevant, active, industry-recognized |
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license, credential, or certificate; or |
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(4) any combination of Subdivisions (1), (2), and (3). |
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(b) A person employed by a school district as a vocational |
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education instructor of a district's vocational education program |
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must have received at least 20 hours of classroom management |
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training as determined by the board of trustees of the district. |
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Sec. 30B.011. MEMBERSHIP IN TEACHER RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF |
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TEXAS. A school district employee who provides services under the |
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district's vocational education program and qualifies for |
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membership in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas shall be |
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covered under the system to the same extent another qualified |
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employee of a school district is covered. |
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Sec. 30B.012. BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIPS. (a) A |
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school district operating a vocational education program under this |
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chapter may partner with private sector businesses to ensure |
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students have sufficient opportunities to participate in |
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apprenticeship training programs and other workplace-based |
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education. |
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(b) A school district may sponsor apprenticeship training |
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programs under Chapter 133 for students enrolled in the district's |
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vocational education program. |
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Sec. 30B.013. LIMITATION ON CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION |
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ALLOTMENT. For each student enrolled in a school district's |
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vocational education program, the district's entitlement to the |
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career and technology education allotment under Section 48.106 is |
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limited to the amount determined by the commissioner in accordance |
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with Subsection (a-1) of that section. |
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ARTICLE 2. OPERATION OF VOCATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAM AS CAMPUS OR |
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CAMPUS PROGRAM CHARTER |
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SECTION 2.01. Section 12.056, Education Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (c) to read as follows: |
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(c) Notwithstanding Subsection (b), requirements related to |
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high school graduation under Section 28.025 do not apply to the |
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issuance of a diploma under a vocational education program under |
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Chapter 30B operated as a campus or campus program under a charter |
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granted under this subchapter if the program is administered in |
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accordance with Chapter 30B and any applicable rules adopted by the |
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State Board of Education under that chapter. |
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SECTION 2.02. Section 28.016(b), Education Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(b) The instruction must include information regarding: |
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(1) the creation of a high school personal graduation |
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plan under Section 28.02121; |
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(2) the distinguished level of achievement described |
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by Section 28.025(b-15); |
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(3) each endorsement described by Section |
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28.025(c-1); |
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(4) college readiness standards; [and] |
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(5) potential career choices and the education needed |
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to enter those careers; and |
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(6) programs of study offered through a vocational |
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education program under Chapter 30B operated as a campus or campus |
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program under a charter granted under Subchapter C, Chapter 12. |
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SECTION 2.03. Section 29.182(b), Education Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(b) The state plan must include procedures designed to |
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ensure that: |
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(1) all secondary and postsecondary students have the |
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opportunity to participate in career and technology education |
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programs; |
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(2) the state complies with requirements for |
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supplemental federal career and technology education funding; |
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(3) career and technology education is established as |
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a part of the total education system of this state and constitutes |
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an option for student learning that provides a rigorous course of |
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study consistent with the required curriculum under Section 28.002 |
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and under which a student may receive specific education in a career |
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and technology program that: |
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(A) incorporates competencies leading to |
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academic and technical skill attainment; |
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(B) leads to: |
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(i) an industry-recognized license, |
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credential, or certificate; or |
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(ii) at the postsecondary level, an |
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associate or baccalaureate degree; |
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(C) includes opportunities for students to earn |
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college credit for coursework; [and] |
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(D) includes, as an integral part of the program, |
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participation by students and teachers in activities of career and |
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technical student organizations supported by the agency and the |
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State Board of Education; and |
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(E) includes the opportunity for students to |
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participate in focused vocational education through a vocational |
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education program under Chapter 30B operated as a campus or campus |
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program under a charter granted under Subchapter C, Chapter 12; and |
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(4) a school district provides, to the greatest extent |
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possible, to a student participating in a career and technology |
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education program opportunities to enroll in dual credit courses |
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designed to lead to a degree, license, or certification as part of |
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the program. |
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ARTICLE 3. APPLICATION OF CERTAIN STUDENT-BASED ALLOTMENTS |
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REGARDING VOCATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAM STUDENTS |
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SECTION 3.01. Section 48.106, Education Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) to read as |
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follows: |
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(a) Subject to Subsection (a-1), for [For] each full-time |
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equivalent student in average daily attendance in an approved |
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career and technology education program in grades 7 through 12, a |
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district is entitled to: |
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(1) an annual allotment equal to the basic allotment |
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multiplied by a weight of 1.35; and |
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(2) $50 for each of the following in which the student |
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is enrolled: |
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(A) two or more advanced career and technology |
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education classes for a total of three or more credits; |
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(B) a campus designated as a P-TECH school under |
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Section 29.556; or |
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(C) a campus that is a member of the New Tech |
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Network and that focuses on project-based learning and work-based |
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education. |
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(a-1) For each full-time equivalent student in average |
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daily attendance in a vocational education program operated under |
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Chapter 30B and authorized as a campus or campus program under a |
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charter granted under Subchapter C, Chapter 12, only the first 10 |
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hours of instructional hours provided to those students under the |
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program each week qualify toward the district's entitlement to the |
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allotment under Subsection (a)(1), and the commissioner shall |
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proportionately reduce the amount of the entitlement accordingly to |
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an amount that reflects the limitation on qualified instructional |
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hours per week using a method adopted by the commissioner. |
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SECTION 3.02. Sections 48.110(f) and (h), Education Code, |
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are amended to read as follows: |
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(f) For purposes of this section, an annual graduate |
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demonstrates: |
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(1) college readiness if the annual graduate: |
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(A) achieves college readiness standards used |
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for accountability purposes under Chapter 39 on the ACT, the SAT, or |
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an assessment instrument designated by the Texas Higher Education |
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Coordinating Board under Section 51.334; and |
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(B) during a time period established by |
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commissioner rule, enrolls at a postsecondary educational |
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institution; |
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(2) career readiness if: |
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(A) the annual graduate: |
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(i) [(A)] achieves college readiness |
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standards used for accountability purposes under Chapter 39 on the |
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ACT, the SAT, or an assessment instrument designated by the Texas |
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Higher Education Coordinating Board under Section 51.334; and |
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(ii) [(B)] during a time period established |
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by commissioner rule, earns an industry-accepted certificate; or |
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(B) the annual graduate earns an |
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industry-recognized license, credential, or certificate under a |
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vocational education program under Chapter 30B; and |
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(3) military readiness if the annual graduate: |
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(A) achieves a passing score set by the |
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applicable military branch on the Armed Services Vocational |
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Aptitude Battery; and |
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(B) during a time period established by |
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commissioner rule, enlists in the armed forces of the United |
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States. |
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(h) On application by a school district, the commissioner |
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may allow annual graduates from the district to satisfy the |
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requirement for demonstrating career readiness under Subsection |
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(f)(2)(A)(ii) [(f)(2)(B)] by successfully completing a coherent |
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sequence of courses required to obtain an industry-accepted |
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certificate. The district must demonstrate in the application that |
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the district is unable to provide sufficient courses or programs to |
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enable students enrolled at the district to earn an |
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industry-accepted certificate within the time period established |
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by the commissioner under Subsection (f)(2)(A)(ii) [(f)(2)(B)]. |
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The commissioner by rule shall provide the criteria required for an |
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application under this subsection. |
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ARTICLE 4. TRANSITION; EFFECTIVE DATE |
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SECTION 4.01. This Act applies beginning with the 2022-2023 |
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school year. |
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SECTION 4.02. This Act takes effect immediately if it |
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receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each |
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house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. |
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If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate |
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effect, this Act takes effect on the 91st day after the last day of |
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the legislative session. |