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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to college and career readiness training for certain |
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public school counselors. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 33, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 33.009 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 33.009. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION AND CAREER COUNSELING |
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ACADEMIES. (a) The commissioner shall develop and make available |
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postsecondary education and career counseling academies for school |
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counselors employed at a middle school, junior high school, or high |
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school. |
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(b) In developing academies under this section, the |
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commissioner shall solicit input from school counselors, the Texas |
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Workforce Commission, institutions of higher education, and |
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business and community leaders. |
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(c) An academy developed under this section must provide |
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counselors with knowledge and skills to provide counseling to |
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students regarding postsecondary success and productive career |
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planning and must include information relating to: |
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(1) each endorsement described by Section |
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28.025(c-1), including: |
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(A) the course requirements for each |
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endorsement; and |
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(B) the postsecondary educational and career |
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opportunities associated with each endorsement; |
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(2) available methods for a student to earn credit for |
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a course not offered at the school in which the student is enrolled, |
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including enrollment in an electronic course provided through the |
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state virtual school network under Chapter 30A; |
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(3) general academic performance requirements for |
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admission to an institution of higher education, including the |
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requirements for automatic admission to a general academic teaching |
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institution under Section 51.803; |
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(4) regional workforce needs, including information |
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about the required education and the average wage or salary for |
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careers that meet those workforce needs; and |
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(5) effective strategies for engaging students and |
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parents in planning for postsecondary education and potential |
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careers. |
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(d) From funds appropriated for that purpose, a school |
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counselor who attends the academy under this section is entitled to |
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receive a stipend in the amount determined by the commissioner. A |
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stipend received under this subsection is not considered in |
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determining whether a district is paying the school counselor the |
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minimum monthly salary under Section 21.402. |
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SECTION 2. 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, 2015. |