BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

 

H.B. 18

By: Aycock

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

Recent education reforms changed high school graduation requirements to allow students more flexibility in their coursework so that students can tailor their courses to better reflect their own goals for college and career success. With increased options for students, interested parties suggest, relevant guidance is a key component of helping them make the most of the opportunities available. H.B. 18 seeks to improve the professional development opportunities for school counselors.

 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

 

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

 

ANALYSIS

 

H.B. 18 amends the Education Code to require the commissioner of education to develop and make available postsecondary education and career counseling academies for school counselors employed at a middle school, junior high school, or high school and, in developing such academies, to solicit input from school counselors, the Texas Workforce Commission, institutions of higher education, and business and community leaders. The bill requires such an academy to provide counselors with knowledge and skills to provide counseling to students regarding postsecondary success and productive career planning and to include information relating to each endorsement that a student may earn on the student's diploma and transcript, available methods for a student to earn credit for a course not offered at the school in which the student is enrolled, general academic performance requirements for admission to an institution of higher education, regional workforce needs, and effective strategies for engaging students and parents in planning for postsecondary education and potential careers. The bill entitles a school counselor who attends such an academy to receive a stipend in the amount determined by the commissioner from funds appropriated for that purpose and establishes that such a stipend is not considered in determining whether a school district is paying the school counselor the required minimum monthly salary.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2015.