By West                                         H.B. No. 1468

      75R6390 CAS-D                           

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to the Ector County Independent School District model

 1-3     school-to-work transition program.

 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-5           SECTION 1.  Subchapter F, Chapter 29, Education Code, is

 1-6     amended by adding Section 29.186 to read as follows:

 1-7           Sec. 29.186.  MODEL SCHOOL-TO-WORK TRANSITION PROGRAM.  (a)

 1-8     The Ector County Independent School District Career Center is the

 1-9     state's model school-to-work transition program.

1-10           (b)  The model school-to-work transition program may develop,

1-11     implement, and assess a competency-based high school program with

1-12     an integrated curriculum to provide high school graduates with the

1-13     elements necessary to make the transition from school to the

1-14     workplace, including a strong work ethic, academic, technological,

1-15     and communications skills, the ability to work as part of a team,

1-16     and specific career goals and skills.  The model program must

1-17     provide students with the information and training necessary for

1-18     competency in curriculum areas and must assess student competency.

1-19           (c)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, the

1-20     model school-to-work transition program:

1-21                 (1)  may offer a curriculum different than the

1-22     curriculum required under Section 28.002;

1-23                 (2)  may establish graduation requirements different

1-24     than the requirements under Section 28.025; and

 2-1                 (3)  is not required to administer end-of-course

 2-2     assessment instruments under Section 39.023.

 2-3           (d)  Using state funds appropriated for that purpose, the

 2-4     agency shall monitor the development, implementation, and

 2-5     assessment of the model school-to-work transition program.

 2-6           SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the

 2-7     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

 2-8     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

 2-9     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

2-10     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,

2-11     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its

2-12     passage, and it is so enacted.