BILL ANALYSIS
By: Giddings
Committee Report (Substituted)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Currently, Texas school districts may offer courses for local credit for high school students in addition to required curriculum courses CSHB 608 amends the Education Code to permit a school district to offer an internship program in which a student works with an elected local, state, or national government official for local credit.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
CSHB 608 allows a school district to offer courses for local credit, including an internship program in which a student works with an elected local, state, or national government official under the supervision of a classroom teacher from the student's school. The State Board of Education shall permit course credit earned through an internship program to be used in compliance with appropriate state elective course credit requirements for high school graduation.
EFFECTIVE DATE
This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2005.
COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE
CSHB 608 adds language that the State Board of Education shall permit course credit earned through an internship program to be used in compliance with appropriate state elective course credit requirements for high school graduation. The board shall be flexible in approving any other course for local credit for high school graduation under this subsection.