83R8444 CAS-D

By: Workman H.B. No. 2010

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a career path initiative for public school students that includes career path guidance for students in certain grade levels, additional high school graduation programs, and a requirement for a minimum number of school counselors at certain schools.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Chapter 28, Education Code, is amended by adding Subchapter B-1 to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER B-1. CAREER PATH INITIATIVE: CAREER PATH INFORMATION,

APTITUDE ASSESSMENT, AND ADDITIONAL HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION

PROGRAMS

Sec. 28.041. CAREER PATH INFORMATION FOR SIXTH, SEVENTH, AND EIGHTH GRADE STUDENTS. Each school district and open-enrollment charter school shall provide to each district or charter school student during the sixth, seventh, and eighth grades information concerning future career path opportunities. The information may be included as part of the curriculum or provided through video presentations or presentations by persons in various professions or occupations.

Sec. 28.042. EIGHTH GRADE APTITUDE ASSESSMENT. (a) The agency shall adopt or develop an assessment instrument:

(1) designed to measure student aptitude; and

(2) appropriate to be administered to students in the eighth grade for purposes of Subdivision (1).

(b) Each school district and open-enrollment charter school shall:

(1) administer the aptitude assessment instrument adopted or developed under Subsection (a) to each district or charter school student in eighth grade during the second half of the school year; and

(2) provide to each student assessed and the parent of or person standing in parental relation to the student the results of the aptitude assessment instrument to use in planning a path to a successful career for the student.

(c) A student or the parent of or person standing in parental relation to the student may consult with a school counselor for guidance concerning the results of the aptitude assessment instrument.

(d) Not later than the end of the school year, each eighth grade student shall select two or three areas of interest to learn more about during the ninth grade.

Sec. 28.043. NINTH GRADE PRELIMINARY CAREER PLANNING. (a) Each school district and open-enrollment charter school shall provide to each district or charter school student during the ninth grade information as necessary for the student to explore in greater detail each area of interest selected by the student during the eighth grade in accordance with Section 28.042(d). The information may be included as part of the curriculum or provided through video presentations, presentations by persons in various professions or occupations, or student Internet or other research, reading, or visiting of businesses relevant to a selected area of interest.

(b) Not later than the end of the school year, each ninth grade student shall select one area of interest the student plans to learn more about during the 10th grade.

Sec. 28.044. 10TH GRADE SELECTION OF DIPLOMA PATH. (a) Each 10th grade student shall further study the area of interest selected under Section 28.043(b) by enrolling in one or more school courses relevant to that area of interest and may further study that area of interest:

(1) by observing a person in a career related to that area of interest during working hours; or

(2) through methods described by Section 28.043(a).

(b) Not later than the end of the school year, each 10th grade student shall select a career path high school program as described by Section 28.046 or a general studies high school program as described by Section 28.046(a).

Sec. 28.045. 11TH AND 12TH GRADE PURSUIT OF HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION PROGRAM. Each 11th and 12th grade student shall pursue a career path high school program as described by Section 28.046.

Sec. 28.046. ADDITIONAL HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION PROGRAMS; CAREER PATH PROGRAMS. (a) The State Board of Education shall develop and adopt, in accordance with this section, career path high school programs. The minimum, recommended, and advanced high school programs under Section 28.025 are considered to be general studies high school programs for purposes of this subchapter.

(b) The career path high school programs developed and adopted under Subsection (a) must be the following:

(1) the liberal arts and fine arts career path high school program;

(2) the mathematics and science career path high school program;

(3) the applied science career path high school program, which must:

(A) include career and technology education courses; and

(B) provide certification based on successful completion of curriculum requirements and of any additional certification requirements; and

(4) the general studies high school programs.

(c) The State Board of Education by rule shall adopt curriculum requirements for high school graduation under each career path high school program under Subsection (b). The curriculum requirements for career path high school programs under Subsections (b)(1), (2), and (3) must provide for a student to enroll in core courses and in multiple career path courses that concentrate on a specific career or specific career field. The board shall consult with representatives from professions and occupations concerning appropriate courses and certifications.

(d) Notwithstanding any other law, a student who successfully completes the curriculum requirements adopted under Subsection (c) for any of the career path high school programs is considered to have successfully completed the curriculum requirements identified by the State Board of Education under Section 28.025(a). The board shall ensure that the curriculum requirements for the liberal arts and fine arts career path program and the mathematics and science career path program are equal in rigor to the curriculum requirements for the recommended high school program. For purposes of Sections 51.3062(q-1) and 51.803(a)(2)(A)(i) and for eligibility for postsecondary financial assistance under this code, the curriculum requirements for the liberal arts and fine arts career path high school program and the mathematics and science career path high school program are considered equivalent to and may be substituted for curriculum requirements for the recommended high school program.

(e) The commissioner shall adopt rules requiring a student participating in a career path high school program under this section to be administered an end-of-course assessment instrument listed in Section 39.023(c) only for a course in which the student is enrolled and for which an end-of-course assessment instrument is administered. Notwithstanding Section 28.025(c) or 39.025(a), a student may receive a high school diploma if the student:

(1) performs satisfactorily on the assessment instruments described by this subsection in the manner provided under Subsection 39.025(a); and

(2) satisfies Section 39.025(a-2), if the student graduates under the liberal arts and fine arts career path high school program or the mathematics and science career path high school program.

(f) Each school district shall report the academic achievement record of students who have completed a career path high school program on transcript forms adopted by the State Board of Education. The transcript forms adopted by the board must be designed to clearly differentiate between each of the career path high school programs and, as applicable, identify the type of certification a student has received under the applied science career path high school program.

(g) A student may change from any one high school program to another one or more times. Regardless of whether a student changes high school programs, a student must complete the curriculum requirements for the high school program under which the student graduates from high school.

(h) Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, a student shall be allowed to transfer to a school in the student's school district or to a school in another district to the extent necessary for the student to enroll in a career path high school program with a concentration of career path courses not offered by the student's school or by another school in the student's district, as applicable. A student transferring under this subsection to another district may not be charged tuition by that district. Section 25.037 applies to a transfer under this subsection.

SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 33, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 33.001 to read as follows:

Sec. 33.001. MIDDLE SCHOOL, JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL, AND HIGH SCHOOL COUNSELORS. (a) Each middle school, junior high school, and high school shall employ at least one counselor certified under the rules of the State Board for Educator Certification for every 250 students in the school.

(b) A middle school counselor may not be assigned responsibility for scheduling aptitude assessment instruments administered under Section 28.042.

SECTION 3. The State Board of Education and the commissioner of education shall adopt rules as necessary to implement Subchapter B-1, Chapter 28, Education Code, as added by this Act, beginning with the 2014-2015 school year.

SECTION 4. Section 33.001, Education Code, as added by this Act, applies beginning with the 2014-2015 school year.

SECTION 5. 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, 2013.