By: Duncan S.B. No. 1410
 
  (Patrick)
 
   
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to reporting student enrollment in tech-prep programs and
  evaluating tech-prep consortia.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 29.185, Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 29.185.  CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS AND
  PROCEDURES [RULES]. (a)  The agency shall prescribe requirements
  for career and technology education in public schools as necessary
  to comply with federal law.
         (b)  The agency shall establish procedures for each school
  district and open-enrollment charter school to:
               (1)  accurately identify students who are enrolled in a
  tech-prep program as described by Section 61.852; and
               (2)  report the accurate number of tech-prep program
  students to the agency and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating
  Board.
         SECTION 2.  Section 61.858, Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 61.858.  TECH-PREP CONSORTIUM [STATEWIDE] EVALUATION.
  (a)  The [In coordination with tech-prep consortia, including the
  governing board of each tech-prep consortium, the] board shall
  develop and implement a statewide system to evaluate each tech-prep
  consortium.  The evaluation must include:
               (1)  an assessment of the consortium's performance
  during the past year in comparison to the goals and objectives
  stated in the five-year plan contained in the consortium's grant
  application to the board under Section 61.856;
               (2)  an identification of any concerns the board has
  regarding the consortium's performance; and
               (3)  recommendations for improvement by the consortium
  in the next year [based on the success of the consortium's tech-prep
  program and other appropriate criteria.   The evaluation system must
  include standards that a tech-prep consortium, including the
  consortium's governing board, is expected to meet in administering
  the consortium's duties under this subchapter].
         (b)  The [Using the criteria developed under Subsection (a),
  the] board shall evaluate each tech-prep consortium annually
  [biennially].  At least once every four years, or more frequently as
  provided by board rule, the annual evaluation shall be conducted
  on-site.
         (c)  Not later than November [October] 1 of each
  [even-numbered] year, the board shall provide a written report to
  each tech-prep consortium with the results of the evaluation.  The
  report must:
               (1)  contain the findings, concerns, and
  recommendations resulting from the evaluation required under
  Subsections (a) and (b);
               (2)  communicate to the consortium the results of the
  board's evaluation, specifically including the elements required
  by Subsection (a);
               (3)  [discuss any failure of the tech-prep consortium
  to meet a standard established under Subsection (a) during the
  reporting period, recognize the achievements of the consortium,
  including the consortium's meeting of standards during the
  reporting period,] identify areas in which the consortium has made
  improvement or should take steps to improve its performance;[,] and
               (4)  identify best practices of tech-prep consortia.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.