81R6670 JRJ-D

By: Shapiro, Harris S.B. No. 1313

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the quality and accessibility of public school career and technical education programs.

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. 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 4. Sections 29.190(a) and (c), Education Code, are amended to read as follows:

(a) A student is entitled to a subsidy under this section if:

(1) the student:

(A) [(1)] successfully completes the career and technology program of a school district in which the student receives training and instruction for employment in a high-demand, high-wage, or high-skill [certain] trade or occupation, as determined under Section 29.186; or

(B) the student is enrolled in a special education program under Subchapter A; and

(2) passes a certification examination to qualify for a license or certificate for the trade or occupation [; and

[(3) demonstrates financial need].

(c) On approval by the commissioner, the agency shall pay each eligible student an amount equal to the cost paid by the student for the certification examination. To obtain a subsidy under this section, a student must:

(1) pay the fee for the examination; and

(2) submit to the commissioner a written application on a form prescribed by the commissioner [demonstrating financial need and] the amount of the fee paid by the student for the certification examination.

SECTION 5. 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) obtaining an aptitude or interest assessment;

(2) available course and career options, including projected future demand for particular careers;

(3) certification and licensing requirements, including skills needed and coursework required to meet those requirements; and

(4) postsecondary education and training opportunities.

SECTION 6. Section 42.154(a), Education Code, is amended 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.

SECTION 7. Section 54.0065(a), Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) A qualified student is eligible for a rebate of a portion of the undergraduate tuition the student has paid if the student:

(1) is awarded a baccalaureate degree from a general academic teaching institution within the period prescribed by Section 56.462(1)(A) or (B), as applicable, to qualify for forgiveness of a Texas B-On-time loan; and

(2) has attempted no more than three hours in excess of the minimum number of semester credit hours required to complete the degree program:

(A) including:

(i) transfer credits; and

(ii) course credit earned exclusively by examination, except that, for purposes of this subsection, only the number of semester credit hours earned exclusively by examination in excess of nine semester credit hours is treated as hours attempted; and

(B) excluding course credit that is earned to satisfy requirements for a Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program or from a dual credit course for which the student received credit toward a high school diploma but that is not required to complete the degree program.

SECTION 8. Section 61.0595(d), Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

(d) The following are not counted for purposes of determining whether the student has previously earned the number of semester credit hours specified by Subsection (a):

(1) semester credit hours earned by the student before receiving a baccalaureate degree that has previously been awarded to the student;

(2) semester credit hours earned by the student by examination or under any other procedure by which credit is earned without registering for a course for which tuition is charged;

(3) credit for a remedial education course, a technical course, a workforce education course funded according to contact hours, a dual credit course for which the student received credit toward a high school diploma, or another course that does not count toward the student's specific [a] degree program [at the institution]; and

(4) semester credit hours earned by the student at a private institution or an out-of-state institution.

SECTION 9. Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 61.0663 to read as follows:

Sec. 61.0663. ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY. (a) To assess the economic benefits and preparation for employment provided by public institutions of higher education, the board shall identify students enrolled in the public education system and collect data on which postsecondary program, if any, the students enroll in and the type of employment the students obtain following completion of high school or the program, as applicable.

(b) The board, in consultation with the Texas Education Agency, the Texas Workforce Commission, and the comptroller, shall use the education and employment data collected under Subsection (a), and any additional relevant data, to assess the economic impact of secondary and postsecondary training and education. The information must be produced in a manner that:

(1) demonstrates patterns of postsecondary enrollment and employment placement;

(2) provides an assessment of the economic benefits of institutions of higher education and programs at those institutions to students and the state; and

(3) provides an assessment of the economic benefit of public education programs that prepare students who transition directly to postsecondary employment.

(c) The information produced under this section must be capable of electronic dissemination and made available to the public in a format that assists students in making decisions regarding education and career choices.

(d) This section does not authorize the disclosure of student information that may not be disclosed under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (20 U.S.C. Section 1232g). The board, in conjunction with the commissioner of education, the comptroller, and the Texas Workforce Commission, shall adopt rules to protect the confidentiality of student information.

SECTION 10. 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) As one of the programs adopted under Subsection (a)(5), the board shall establish education resource centers to create within school communities interest in and information concerning attendance at institutions of higher education. Each center must attempt to coordinate among students, parents, school counselors, and institutions of higher education in providing access to resources helpful in preparation for attendance at and admission to institutions of higher education. One or more persons associated with each center shall be trained and able to assist the families of high school students complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. Each center shall provide information concerning career and technical education, including certification and licensing requirements and available course and career options and degree programs. A center under this subsection may be located on a high school or middle school campus or at a site within a community that is conveniently located to many students, such as a public library or local workforce or community center, or may be a mobile center that visits schools or other places where students are likely to gather.

(c) The board shall conduct ongoing evaluations of programs developed under Subsection (a) and any other programs developed to provide information concerning postsecondary educational or employment opportunities to determine the effectiveness of the programs in meeting the goals of "Closing the Gaps," the state's master plan for higher education.

(d) In conjunction with the comptroller, the board shall develop an Internet website for the purpose of providing information to the public about postsecondary educational and employment opportunities. The website shall provide information in English and Spanish concerning:

(1) career and technical education programs that integrate academic, technical, and career skills that lead to a license, certificate, or postsecondary degree;

(2) available employment opportunities and the educational requirements needed for employment at entry and advanced levels;

(3) which occupations are considered high-demand under Section 29.186;

(4) the skills needed and the available avenues for obtaining employment in a high-demand occupation; and

(5) how to obtain financial aid and what forms of financial aid are available to students entering certain occupations.

(e) For the purpose of developing the Internet website under Subsection (d), the board may require the Texas Education Agency to provide information on educational programs and outcomes and the Texas Workforce Commission to provide information on workforce programs and outcomes.

(f) As one of the programs adopted under Subsection (a)(5), the board, in conjunction with the comptroller and the Texas Workforce Commission, shall establish mobile career centers that visit schools or other places where students are likely to gather. The mobile career centers shall provide students information on various occupations including:

(1) the potential future employment demand for the occupation;

(2) the earning potential for a person employed in the occupation;

(3) the skills and training needed for employment in the occupation;

(4) a list of courses applicable to the occupation, including courses offered in high school, for dual credit, on the Internet, and at institutions of higher education, and the extent to which those courses are available to the student; and

(5) information concerning post entry-level employment opportunities in the occupation and, to the extent feasible, information concerning the education required to access those future opportunities.

SECTION 11. Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by adding Subchapter T-1 to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER T-1. CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION

Sec. 61.861. DEVELOPMENT OF MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE COURSES FOR HIGH-DEMAND OCCUPATIONS. (a) The commissioner of higher education, in consultation with the comptroller and the Texas Workforce Commission, may award a grant in an amount not to exceed $1 million to an institution of higher education to develop advanced mathematics and science courses to prepare high school students for employment in a high-demand occupation. The commissioner of higher education, the comptroller, and the Texas Workforce Commission shall jointly determine what is considered a high-demand occupation for purposes of this subchapter.

(b) An institution of higher education shall work in partnership with at least one independent school district and a business entity in developing a course for purposes of this section.

(c) A course developed for purposes of this section must:

(1) provide content that enables a student to develop the relevant and critical skills needed to be prepared for employment or additional training in a high-demand occupation;

(2) incorporate college and career readiness skills as part of the curriculum;

(3) be offered for dual credit; and

(4) satisfy a mathematics or science requirement under the recommended or advanced high school program as determined under Section 28.025.

(d) An institution of higher education shall periodically review and revise the curriculum for a course developed for purposes of this section to accommodate changes in industry standards for the high-demand occupation.

Sec. 61.862. GRANT APPLICATION CRITERIA. The commissioner of higher education, in consultation with the comptroller and the Texas Workforce Commission, shall establish application criteria for a grant under this subchapter and in making an award, shall give priority to courses that:

(1) will prepare students for high-demand, high-wage, and high-skill occupations;

(2) may be transferred as college credit to multiple institutions of higher education; and

(3) are developed as part of a sequence of courses that includes statewide availability of the instructional materials and training for the courses at a nominal cost to public educational institutions in this state.

Sec. 61.863. USE OF FUNDS. An institution of higher education may use funds awarded under this section to develop, in connection with a course described by Subsection (a):

(1) curriculum;

(2) assessments; or

(3) instructional materials, including technology-based supplemental materials.

Sec. 61.864. REVIEW OF COURSES. Courses developed for which a grant is awarded under this subchapter shall be reviewed by the commissioner of higher education, in consultation with the comptroller and the Texas Workforce Commission, once every four years to determine whether the course:

(1) is being used by public educational institutions in this state; and

(2) prepares high school students with the skills necessary for employment in the high-demand occupation.

Sec. 61.865. MATCHING CONTRIBUTION REQUIRED. An institution of higher education awarded a grant under this subchapter must obtain from one or more business entities in the industry for which students taking courses developed under Section 61.861 are training, in a total amount equal to the amount of the state grant:

(1) gifts, grants, or donations of funds; or

(2) contributions of property that may be used in providing the courses.

Sec. 61.866. LIMITATION ON TOTAL AMOUNT OF GRANTS. In any state fiscal biennium, the total amount of grants awarded under this subchapter may not exceed $10 million.

Sec. 61.867. FUNDING OF GRANTS. The commissioner of higher education shall administer this section using available appropriations and gifts, grants, and donations made for the purposes of this subchapter.

SECTION 12. Section 29.190(b), Education Code, is repealed.

SECTION 13. The change in law made by this Act to Section 54.0065(a), Education Code, applies to a tuition rebate regardless of the date a student enters a general academic teaching institution as a first-time freshman.

SECTION 14. The change in law made by this Act to Section 61.0595, Education Code, applies beginning with the funding recommendations made under Section 61.059, Education Code, for the 2011-2012 academic year.

SECTION 15. Sections 4, 5, and 6 of this Act apply beginning with the 2009-2010 school year.

SECTION 16. 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.