By: Guillen H.B. No. 2538

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the career and technology education program.

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

SECTION 1. Section 7.009, Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 7.009. BEST PRACTICES; CLEARINGHOUSE. (a) In coordination with the Legislative Budget Board, the agency shall establish an online clearinghouse of information relating to best practices of campuses, [and] school districts, and open-enrollment charter schools. In addition to information required under Subsection (e), the agency shall determine the appropriate topic categories for which a campus, district, or charter school may submit best [regarding instruction, dropout prevention, public school finance, resource allocation, and business] practices. To the extent practicable, the agency shall ensure that information provided through the online clearinghouse is specific, actionable information relating to the best practices of high-performing and highly efficient campuses, [and school] districts, and open-enrollment charter schools and of academically acceptable campuses, districts, and open-enrollment charter schools that have demonstrated significant improvement in student achievement rather than general guidelines relating to campus, [and school] district, and open-enrollment charter school operation. The information must be accessible by campuses, school districts, open-enrollment charter schools, and interested members of the public.

(b) The agency shall solicit and collect from the Legislative Budget Board, centers for education research established under Section 1.005, and [exemplary or recognized] school districts, campuses, and open-enrollment charter schools[, as rated under Section 39.072,] examples of best practices as determined by the agency under Subsection (a) and as required under Subsection (e) [relating to instruction, dropout prevention, public school finance, resource allocation, and business practices, including best practices relating to curriculum, scope and sequence, compensation and incentive systems, bilingual education and special language programs, compensatory education programs, and the effective use of instructional technology, including online courses].

(c) The agency shall contract for the services of one or more third-party contractors to develop, implement, and maintain a system of collecting and evaluating the best practices of campuses, [and] school districts, and open-enrollment charter schools as provided by this section. In addition to any other considerations required by law, the agency must consider an applicant's demonstrated competence and qualifications in analyzing campus, [and] school district, and open-enrollment charter school practices in awarding a contract under this subsection.

(d) The commissioner may purchase from available funds curriculum and other instructional tools identified under this section to provide for use by school districts and open-enrollment charter schools.

(e) The clearinghouse shall collect and provide information relating to best practices in career and technology education, including:

(1) model programs that connect kindergarten through grade 12 to postsecondary employment or higher education in a seamless system that includes the use of quality internship programs;

(2) courses that teach the required curriculum under Section 28.002 in a manner that may be applied to employment skills;

(3) models of course scheduling that allow students to participate in a coherent sequence of career and technology courses while meeting the requirement adopted under Section 28.025 that students complete four courses in each subject of the foundation curriculum under Section 28.002(a)(1);

(4) counseling that:

(A) assists students in identifying high-demand, high-wage occupations appropriate for the student;

(B) diagnoses the current skills of students and determines the skills needed for those high-demand, high-wage occupations;

(C) assists students in planning courses and schedules to acquire needed skills; and

(D) connects students to employment opportunities and to institutions of higher education; and

(5) the integration and use of Internet courses into the career and technology education course sequences.

(f) This subsection expires January 31, 2011. Not later than January 1, 2011, the agency shall report to the chair of each standing committee of the legislature with primary jurisdiction over public education recommendations regarding how to use the clearinghouse established under this section as a dynamic technical assistance and support tool. The recommendations must include recommendations regarding:

(1) using the clearinghouse to provide classroom teachers, school districts, and open-enrollment charter schools with statewide access to high-quality curricula;

(2) consolidating similar state Internet web portals into a central framework; and

(3) providing students access to Internet-based academic and career counseling that includes cooperation among the relevant state agencies for the purpose of transitioning students, including students enrolled in a special education program under Subchapter A, Chapter 29, from kindergarten through grade 12 to postsecondary employment or higher education.

SECTION 2. Section 28.002, Education Code, is amended by adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:

(d) Each time the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board revises the Internet database of the coordinating board's official statewide inventory of workforce education courses, the State Board of Education shall by rule revise the essential knowledge and skills of any corresponding career and technology education curriculum as provided by Subsection (c).

SECTION 3. Section 29.182(b), Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

(b) The state plan must include procedures designed to ensure that:

(1) all secondary and postsecondary students have the opportunity to participate in career and technology education programs;

(2) the state complies with requirements for supplemental federal career and technology education funding; and

(3) career and technology education is established as a part of the total education system of this state and constitutes an option for student learning that provides a rigorous course of study consistent with the required curriculum under Section 28.002 and under which a student may receive specific education in a career and technology program that:

(A) incorporated competencies leading to academic and technical skill attainment;

(B) leads to:

(i) an industry-recognized license, credential, or certificate; or

(ii) at the postsecondary level, an associate or baccalaureate degree; and

(C) includes opportunities for students to earn college credit for coursework.

SECTION 4. Section 29.183, Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 29.183. CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. (a) The board of trustees of a school district:

(1) shall provide [may conduct and supervise] career and technology classes and other educational programs for students that offer a selection of courses that:

(A) constitute a coherent sequence, as approved by the commissioner, in at least three nationally recognized occupational clusters; and

(B) prepare students to succeed in skilled on-the-job training and postsecondary education;

(2) may conduct and supervise career and technology classes and other educational programs for students or [and] for other persons of all ages; and

(3) may spend local maintenance funds for the cost of [those] classes and programs described by Subdivision (1) or (2).

(b) In developing a career and technology program, the board of trustees must [shall] consider the state plan for career and technology education required under Section 29.182.

SECTION 5. Section 29.184(a), Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) The board of trustees of a school district shall, to the extent possible, [may] contract [with another school district or] with a public or private postsecondary educational institution or trade or technical school that is regulated by this state, as designated in the state plan for career and technology education required under Section 29.182, to provide career and technology classes for students in the district as dual credit courses or otherwise as courses for credit in the manner established under an articulation agreement, including an agreement leading to advanced technical credit as determined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. In addition, the board of trustees may contract with another school district to provide career and technology classes for students in the district and may enroll students in career and technology courses offered through the state virtual school network under Section 30A.1042.

SECTION 6. Subchapter F, Chapter 29, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 29.186 to read as follows:

Sec. 29.186. HIGH-DEMAND OCCUPATIONS LIST. (a) The Texas Workforce Commission shall develop, in consultation with the Texas Workforce Investment Council, a list of high-demand, high-wage, high-skill occupations in this state that have industry certifications. The Texas Workforce Commission shall provide the research and technical support for developing the list under this subsection.

(b) The Texas Workforce Investment Council shall consider the list developed under Subsection (a) and approve a list for submission to the commissioner. On approval of the list, the Texas Workforce Investment Council shall deliver the list to the commissioner.

(c) The commissioner of education, after consultation with the commissioner of higher education, shall consider the list delivered under Subsection (b) and approve a final list of high-demand, high-wage, high-skill occupations in this state that have industry certifications.

(d) The list of high-demand, high-wage, high-skill occupations in this state that have industry certifications shall be reviewed and approved under the process provided by this section every four years.

SECTION 7. Section 29.187(a), Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) In addition to the authority granted under Section 29.183, the board of trustees of a school district may develop and offer a program [that provides a rigorous course of study consistent with the required curriculum under Section 28.002 and] under which a student may[:

[(1) receive specific education in a career and technology profession that:

[(A) leads to postsecondary education; or

[(B) meets or exceeds business or industry standards; and

[(2)] obtain from the district an award for distinguished achievement in career and technology education and a stamp or other notation on the student's transcript that indicates receipt of the award.

SECTION 8. Subchapter C, Chapter 30A, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 30A.1042 to read as follows:

Sec. 30A.1042. CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY COURSES. A school district, public or private postsecondary educational institution, trade or technical school that is regulated by this state, or industry-recognized educational entity approved by the commissioner and regulated by this state may seek approval to offer through the state virtual school network career and technology courses that comply with the requirements of the state plan for career and technology education developed under Section 29.182.

SECTION 9. Subchapter A, Chapter 33, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 33.008 to read as follows:

Sec. 33.008. COUNSELING REGARDING CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION. (a) Each counselor at a middle or junior high school, including an open-enrollment charter school offering those grades, shall advise students and their parents or guardians regarding the purposes of and available options for career and technology education as part of any information provided to a student for purposes of establishing a personal graduation plan.

(b) During the first school year a student is enrolled in a high school or at the high school level in an open-enrollment charter school, a counselor shall provide information about career and technology education to the student and the student's parent or guardian as part of any information provided to a student for purposes of establishing a personal graduation plan. The career and technology information provided must include information regarding:

(1) available course and career options;

(2) certification and licensing requirements; and

(3) the availability of college credit.

SECTION 10. Section 42.154, Education Code, is amended by amending Subsection (a) and (c) and adding Subsection (c-1) to read as follows:

(a) For each full-time equivalent student in average daily attendance in an approved career and technology education program in grades nine through 12 or in career and technology education programs for students with disabilities in grades seven through 12, a district is entitled to:

(1) an annual allotment equal to the adjusted basic allotment multiplied by a weight of 1.35; and

(2) $50, if the student is enrolled in:

(A) two or more advanced career and technology education classes for a total of three or more credits; or

(B) an advanced course as part of a tech-prep program under Subchapter T, Chapter 61.

(c) Except as provided by Subsection (c-1), funds [Funds] allocated under this section, other than an indirect cost allotment established under State Board of Education rule, may [must] be used only to provide [in providing] career and technology education programs in grades nine through 12 or career and technology education programs for students with disabilities in grades seven through 12 under Sections 29.182, 29.183, and 29.184 that are approved by the commissioner and include courses that:

(1) constitute a coherent sequence, as approved by the commissioner, in at least three nationally recognized occupational clusters;

(2) are designed to prepare students to succeed in skilled on-the-job training and postsecondary education or employment; and

(3) lead to the acquisition of:

(A) an industry-recognized license, credential, or certificate; or

(B) college credit.

(c-1) Because career and technical student organizations are an integral part of a career and technology education program, funds allocated under this section may also be used to provide funding to students and teachers for participation in activities related to career and technical student organizations that are supported by the agency and the State Board of Education.

SECTION 11. Section 51.805, Education Code, is amended by adding Subsection (f) to read as follows:

(f) This section does not apply to a general academic teaching institution for the purpose of admitting an applicant as an undergraduate student who:

(1) was enrolled in a career and technology education program and successfully completed that program to graduate from high school; and

(2) the institution determines meets the academic standards for the program in which the student desires to enroll.

SECTION 12. Section 61.0762, Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 61.0762. PROGRAMS TO ENHANCE STUDENT SUCCESS. (a) To implement the college readiness and success strategic action plan adopted under Section 61.0761 and to enhance the success of students at institutions of higher education, the board by rule shall develop:

(1) summer higher education bridge programs in the subject areas of mathematics, science, and English language arts;

(2) incentive programs for institutions of higher education that implement research-based, innovative developmental education initiatives;

(3) financial assistance programs for educationally disadvantaged students, as defined by Section 5.001, who take college entrance and college readiness assessment instruments;

(4) professional development programs for faculty of institutions of higher education on college readiness standards and the implications of such standards on instruction; and

(5) other programs as determined by the board that support the participation and success goals in "Closing the Gaps," the state's master plan for higher education.

(b) A program developed under this section to provide education resource centers designed to motivate and assist students and their families and provide information about enrolling in college must also provide information about career and technology education. The career and technology information provided must include information regarding:

(1) available course and career options;

(2) certification and licensing requirements; and

(3) available degree programs.

SECTION 13. This Act applies beginning with the 2011-2012 school year.

SECTION 14. 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, 2009.