BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center                                                                                                     H.B. 3485

                                                                                                         By: King, Susan et al. (Shapiro)

                                                                                                                                            Education

                                                                                                                                            5/17/2007

                                                                                                                                           Engrossed

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

A survey conducted by the Texas Education Agency found that in the 2004-2005 school year about 73 percent of students in Texas took career and technology education (CTE) classes. Most, however, took only one.  There is evidence that students taking a sequence of CTE courses have better attendance, higher test scores, and higher graduation rates than those who do not.  Most good jobs today require some sort of post-secondary training or degree. Many CTE course sequences that begin in high school lead students into college and result in certificates, licenses, and degrees that meet industry standards.

 

Employers across Texas have many current job openings they cannot fill because of a shortage of qualified applicants, and they anticipate even greater challenges replacing the large numbers of skilled workers who will retire over the next few years.  The workforce shortages are hampering productivity, disrupting delivery schedules and making it difficult for businesses to operate in Texas.  In more and more instances, the situation is approaching crisis proportions.  Many of these positions require just the sort of preparation provided by a solid sequence of CTE courses.

 

The purpose of this bill is to raise awareness about the value of career and technology education in Texas by including it in existing policies that impact student course-taking decisions.  In this way, students, parents, and educators will consider CTE to be a viable course of study through which they can experience educational success and prepare themselves to take advantage of the many present and future opportunities of the Texas job market.

 

H.B. 3485 promotes a career and technical curriculum to fulfill high school and postsecondary education requirements by creating a new review panel for career and technical educational curriculum under the Texas Education Agency.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the State Board of Education in SECTION 1 (Section 28.0022, Education Code) of this bill.

 

Rulemaking authority previously granted to the State Board of Education is modified in SECTION 4 (Section 28.025, Education Code) of this bill.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1.  Amends Subchapter A, Chapter 28, Education Code, by adding Section 28.0022, as follows:

 

Sec. 28.0022.  REVIEW PANEL FOR CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION CURRICULUM.  (a)  Requires the Texas Education Agency (TEA), not later than November 1, 2007, to establish a panel under this section to review and recommend revisions to the career and technical education curriculum under Section 28.002(a)(2)(F), and review and recommend revisions for the program in which high schools and articulated postsecondary institutions allow high school students to take advanced technical credit courses.

 

(b)  Requires the panel established under this section to consist of individuals who have expertise developing or administering career and technical education programs, and employers who hire students who have obtained certification or credentials under a career and technical education program.

 

(c)  Provides that a member of the panel serves on a voluntary basis without compensation.

 

(d)   Requires the panel, not later than November 1, 2008, to complete the review as required by this section of the career and technical education curriculum, and the program under which high schools and articulated postsecondary institutions allow high school students to take advanced technical credit courses, and make recommendations to the State Board of Education as necessary to increase the academic rigor of the career and technical education curriculum under Section 28.002(a)(2)(F) and improve and increase participation in the program under which high schools and articulated postsecondary institutions allow high school students to take advanced technical credit courses.

 

(e)   Requires the State Board of Education (SBOE) by rule and not later than September 1, 2009, to revise the essential knowledge and skills of the career and technical education curriculum as provided by Section 28.002(c) based on the recommendations of the panel under Subsection (d). Requires SBOE to require school districts to provide instruction in the career and technical education curriculum, as revised under this subsection, beginning with the 2010-2011 school year.

 

(f)  Provides that this section expires September 1, 2014.

 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 28.009, Education Code, by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (c) and (d), as follows:

 

(a)   Authorizes college credit earned in high school to be earned through international baccalaureate, advanced placement, or dual credit courses, articulated postsecondary courses provided for local credit or articulated postsecondary advanced technical credit courses provided for state credit, or any combination of the courses described by Subdivisions (1) and (2).

 

(c)  Requires each school district to annually report to TEA the number of district students, including career and technical students, who have participated in the program and earned college credit, and the cumulative number of courses in which participating district students have enrolled and college credit hours the students have earned.

 

(d)  Defines "career and technical student" and "sequence of courses."

 

SECTION 3.  Amends Section 28.0212, Education Code, by adding Subsection (g), to provide that each school district is encouraged to establish for each student entering grade nine a personal graduation plan that identifies a course of study that promotes college and workforce readiness and career placement and advancement, and facilitates the student's transition from secondary to postsecondary education.

 

SECTION 4.  Amends Section 28.025, Education Code, by amending Subsection (b-1) and adding Subsection (b-2), as follows:

 

(b-1)  Requires SBOE by rule to require that the curriculum requirements for the recommended and advanced high school programs under Subsection (a) include a requirement that students successfully complete four courses in each subject of the foundation curriculum under Section 28.002(a)(1) except as provided by Subsection (b-2).

 

(b-2)   Requires SBOE, in adopting rules under Subsection (b-1), to allow a student to comply with the curriculum requirements for a mathematics course under Subsection (b-1)(1) taken after the successful completion of an Algebra II course or science course under Subsection (b-1)(1) taken after the successful completion of a physics course by successfully completing an advanced career and technical course designated by SBOE as containing substantively similar and rigorous academic content.  Authorizes a student to use the option provided by this subsection for not more than two courses.

 

SECTION 5.  Amends Section 42.154, Education Code, by adding Subsection (a-1), as follows:

 

(a-1)   Requires the commissioner of education (commissioner), notwithstanding any other provision of this section, to develop and implement a pilot program under which a school district is entitled to additional funding for each student receiving career and technology instruction in grade eight. Requires the commissioner to select not more than five school districts for participation in the pilot program. Requires the commissioner, in selecting school districts for participation, to consider school districts that can provide services under the program at the least cost.  Entitles a school district participating in the program under this subsection to an annual allotment equal to the adjusted basic allotment multiplied by a weight of 1.35 for each full-time equivalent student in grade eight in average daily attendance in an approved career and technology education program. Requires funds allocated under this subsection, other than an indirect cost allotment established under board rule, to be used in providing career and technology programs in grade eight under Sections 29.182, 29.183, and 29.184.  Entitles a school district to an allotment under this subsection for each school year through the completion of the 2011-2012 school year.  Requires TEA, not later than January 1, 2013, to prepare and deliver to each member of the legislature a report describing the effectiveness of the pilot program described by this subsection.  Provides that this subsection expires February 1, 2013.

 

SECTION 6.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2007.