LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 82ND LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

May 3, 2011

TO:	Honorable Rob Eissler, Chair, House Committee on Public Education
FROM:	John S O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	SB1620 by Duncan (Relating to substitution of certain career and technology courses for certain mathematics and science courses otherwise required under the recommended high school program.), As Engrossed

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill creates an approval process to allow certain career and technology courses to be eligible for mathematics and science credit under the recommended and advanced high school programs.  The State Board of Education would establish a process under which applied Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) courses that meet the approval criteria could be substituted for mathematics and science courses required under those programs. 

The bill would require teachers to pass a certification test administered by the organization that created the curriculum on which the STEM course is based; and have at least an associate degree as well as three years of work experience in the occupation for which the STEM course is intended to prepare students.

The Commissioner of Education would be required to implement the new process by September 1, 2012.

The TEA estimates some costs of convening an expert panel to review STEM courses for approval, but these costs are not expected to be significant.  It is assumed that any teacher training performed by the agency in these courses would be conducted to the extent that existing resources permitted.

Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

701 Central Education Agency

LBB Staff:

JOB, LXH, JGM, RN, AW