AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Under current law, a school district that has kindergarten through grade 12 is required to offer a foundation curriculum that includes English language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies.  These school districts are also required to offer an enrichment curriculum that includes, among other subjects, languages other than English, health, physical education, fine arts, and career and technology education.  Interested parties assert that more choice is needed in a student's high school graduation plan because current course offerings are particularly insufficient in the area of career and technology education (CTE).

 

H.B. 2201 requires the State Board of Education to ensure that at least six advanced CTE courses, including courses in personal financial literacy and statistics, are approved to satisfy a fourth credit in mathematics.

 

H.B. 2201 amends current law relating to increasing the courses offered in the career and technology education curriculum.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1.  Amends Subchapter A, Chapter 28, Education Code, by adding Section 28.00222, as follows:

 

Sec. 28.00222.  INCREASE IN CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION COURSES.  (a) Requires the State Board of Education, not later than September 1, 2014, to ensure that at least six advanced career and technology education courses, including a course in personal financial literacy that is consistent with Section 28.0021 (Personal Financial Literacy) and satisfies statistics, are approved to satisfy a fourth credit in mathematics required for high school graduation.

 

(b) Requires the commissioner of education (commissioner), not later than January 1, 2015, to review and report to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the presiding officer of each standing committee of the legislature with primary responsibility over public primary and secondary education regarding the progress of increasing the number of courses approved for the career and technology education curriculum.  Requires the commissioner to include in the report a detailed description of any new courses, including instructional materials and required equipment, if any.

 

(c) Provides that this section expires September 1, 2015.

 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 2013.

 

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES

 

Amends SECTION 1, H.B. No. 2201 (engrossed version), adding Section 28.00222(a), Education Code (page 1, lines 11 and 12), by striking "and satisfies statistics".