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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a project for the development and implementation of a |
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nature science curriculum for public school students. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 28, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 28.013 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 28.013. NATURE SCIENCE CURRICULUM PROJECT. (a) The |
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State Board of Education shall assist in developing a nature |
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science curriculum, in accordance with this section, the following |
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entities, acting jointly: |
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(1) the Outdoor School at Texas Tech University Center |
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at Junction; |
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(2) the Texas Science, Technology, Engineering, and |
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Math (T-STEM) Center of Texas Tech University; and |
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(3) South Llano River State Park. |
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(b) The nature science curriculum must: |
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(1) be designed for instruction of students in grades |
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six through 12; |
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(2) provide for grade-level appropriate instruction |
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in essential knowledge and skills identified by the State Board of |
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Education under Section 28.002 for: |
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(A) science; and |
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(B) mathematics, social studies, and language |
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arts, to the extent practicable and relevant to nature science |
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studies; |
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(3) through participation in outdoor experiential |
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learning projects in state parks, provide for the scientific study |
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by students of: |
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(A) conservation, wildlife or aquatic biology, |
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range ecology, or other areas of nature science; and |
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(B) problems affecting nature, such as threats to |
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the watershed, and possible solutions to those problems; and |
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(4) be designed to: |
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(A) be capable of implementation in any state |
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park; |
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(B) use state park resources in providing |
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instruction; and |
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(C) be presented by classroom teachers and state |
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park employees. |
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(c) The Texas Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math |
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(T-STEM) Center of Texas Tech University shall make the nature |
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science curriculum available through the university's Internet |
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website or through a separate Internet website developed by the |
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center for that purpose. |
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(d) The Texas Tech University Center at Junction, with |
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assistance from South Llano River State Park, shall present to |
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classroom teachers and state park employees staff development |
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courses in providing instruction in the nature science curriculum. |
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(e) The nature science curriculum project must be |
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implemented and maintained using money appropriated for those |
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purposes. |
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SECTION 2. The Texas Tech University Center at Junction, |
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with assistance from South Llano River State Park, shall present |
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staff development courses as required by Section 28.013, Education |
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Code, as added by this Act, beginning September 1, 2008. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |