80R7989 PAM-D

By: Veasey H.B. No. 2747

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to appointing a commission to study and develop a recommended technical high school graduation program.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter F, Chapter 29, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 29.189 to read as follows:

Sec. 29.189. TEXAS CAREER-ACADEMIC TRAINING AND STATEWIDE CURRICULUM COMMISSION. (a) In this section, "skilled employee" means an employee who has acquired knowledge in a technical field sufficient to successfully perform assigned duties.

(b) The Texas Career-Academic Training and Statewide Curriculum Commission is established to perform a study and make recommendations to the legislature concerning a technical high school graduation program.

(c) The commission is composed of 14 members appointed by the State Board of Education as follows:

(1) a superintendent from one of the five school districts in the state with the greatest student enrollment;

(2) a superintendent from one of the 100 school districts in the state with the smallest student enrollment;

(3) a high school teacher currently employed by one of the five school districts in the state with the greatest student enrollment, other than the district from which the superintendent is appointed under Subdivision (1);

(4) a high school teacher currently employed by one of the 100 school districts in the state with the smallest student enrollment, other than the district from which the superintendent is appointed under Subdivision (2);

(5) a retired high school teacher who was formerly employed by one of the five school districts in the state with the greatest student enrollment, other than the district from which the superintendent is appointed under Subdivision (1);

(6) a retired high school teacher who was formerly employed by one of the 100 school districts in the state with the smallest student enrollment, other than the district from which the superintendent is appointed under Subdivision (2);

(7) a high school guidance counselor;

(8) a representative from a private trade or technical school accredited by an accrediting entity recognized by the commissioner or by another state officer or agency;

(9) a representative from a component of the Texas State Technical College System;

(10) three persons who are leaders in the business community in this state, each from a different business organization that employs skilled employees;

(11) a representative of the Texas Workforce Commission; and

(12) a person with expertise in technical opportunities in the public education setting.

(d) For purposes of Subsection (c), the size of a school district is based on student enrollment on January 1, 2007.

(e) The Texas Career-Academic Training and Statewide Curriculum Commission shall:

(1) research courses currently offered in public high schools across this state and in other states that are usually offered for high school graduation credit and that are appropriate for a technical high school curriculum;

(2) develop a technical high school graduation program to recommend to the legislature for implementation in public high schools in this state; and

(3) prepare a fiscal report relating to the cost of implementing the technical high school graduation program recommended under Subdivision (2) that includes a recommendation relating to methods of funding by the state or other entities to avoid imposition of a significant financial burden on school districts.

(f) A technical high school graduation program developed under Subsection (e) must:

(1) include electives that provide a student with the opportunity to learn skills necessary to acquire employment that provides a decent wage and opportunity for advancement;

(2) be coordinated with existing high school graduation programs established under Section 28.025 in a manner that allows students to alternate between graduation programs;

(3) include requirements for graduation that are more rigorous than the requirements under the minimum high school program established under Section 28.025 and sufficient to allow a student to apply for postsecondary study but that are less rigorous than the requirements under the recommended high school program established under Section 28.025; and

(4) be approved by a majority of the members of the Texas Career-Academic Training and Statewide Curriculum Commission.

(g) Not later than December 1, 2008, the Texas Career-Academic Training and Statewide Curriculum Commission shall submit a report relating to the technical high school graduation program developed under this section to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the presiding officers of the standing committees of each house of the legislature with primary jurisdiction over public education.

(h) This section expires December 31, 2008.

SECTION 2. Not later than November 1, 2007, the State Board of Education shall appoint members to the Texas Career-Academic Training and Statewide Curriculum Commission as established by Section 29.189, Education Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 3. 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, 2007.