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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to an approval process for substitution of certain career |
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and technology courses for mathematics and science courses |
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otherwise required under the recommended and advanced high school |
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programs. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 28, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 28.027 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 28.027. APPLIED SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND |
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MATHEMATICS COURSES. (a) In this section, "applied STEM course" |
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means an applied science, technology, engineering, or mathematics |
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course offered as part of a school district's career and technology |
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education curriculum. |
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(b) The State Board of Education shall establish a process |
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under which an applied STEM course may be reviewed and approved for |
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purposes of satisfying the mathematics and science curriculum |
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requirements for the recommended and advanced high school programs |
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imposed under Section 28.025(b-1)(1)(A) through substitution of |
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the applied STEM course for a specific mathematics or science |
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course otherwise required under those programs. |
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(c) The process must provide that an applied STEM course is |
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entitled to be approved for the purpose described by Subsection (b) |
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if the course meets the following requirements: |
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(1) the applied STEM course is part of a curriculum |
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created by a recognized national or international business and |
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industry group to prepare a student for a national or international |
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business and industry certification or license; |
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(2) the applied STEM course qualifies as: |
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(A) an international baccalaureate, advanced |
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placement, or dual credit course; or |
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(B) an articulated postsecondary course provided |
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for local credit or articulated postsecondary advanced technical |
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credit course provided for state credit; |
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(3) the essential knowledge and skills covered in the |
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applied STEM course are equivalent to the essential knowledge and |
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skills covered in the mathematics or science course for which the |
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applied STEM course is proposed to be approved for substitution; |
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and |
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(4) if the applied STEM course is proposed for |
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substitution for a mathematics or science course typically taken by |
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a student in the student's fourth year of high school, the applied |
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STEM course must: |
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(A) provide substantial mathematics content or |
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science content, as applicable, taught in an applied or symbolic |
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format, that enables a student to develop relevant critical |
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thinking skills necessary for preparation for employment or |
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additional training in a career identified by the Texas Workforce |
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Commission as a high-demand or emerging occupation; and |
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(B) incorporate college and career readiness |
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skills. |
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SECTION 2. Section 28.025(b-2), Education Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(b-2) In adopting rules under Subsection (b-1), the State |
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Board of Education shall allow a student to comply with the |
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curriculum requirements for a mathematics [course under Subsection
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(b-1)(1) taken after the successful completion of an Algebra II
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course] or science course under Subsection (b-1)(1) [taken after
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the successful completion of a physics course] by successfully |
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completing an advanced career and technical course designated by |
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the State Board of Education as containing substantively similar |
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and rigorous academic content. [A student may use the option
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provided by this subsection for not more than two courses.] |
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SECTION 3. Not later than September 1, 2012, the |
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commissioner of education shall establish and implement the process |
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required by Section 28.027, Education Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 4. 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, 2011. |