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AN ACT
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relating to information printed by school districts on high school |
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diplomas. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Sections 28.025(c-1), (c-5), and (e-1), |
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Education Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(c-1) A student may earn an endorsement on the student's |
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[diploma and] transcript by successfully completing curriculum |
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requirements for that endorsement adopted by the State Board of |
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Education by rule. The State Board of Education by rule shall |
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provide students with multiple options for earning each |
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endorsement, including, to the greatest extent possible, coherent |
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sequences of courses. The State Board of Education by rule must |
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permit a student to enroll in courses under more than one |
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endorsement curriculum before the student's junior year. An |
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endorsement under this subsection may be earned in any of the |
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following categories: |
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(1) science, technology, engineering, and mathematics |
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(STEM), which includes courses directly related to science, |
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including environmental science, technology, including computer |
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science, engineering, and advanced mathematics; |
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(2) business and industry, which includes courses |
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directly related to database management, information technology, |
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communications, accounting, finance, marketing, graphic design, |
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architecture, construction, welding, logistics, automotive |
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technology, agricultural science, and heating, ventilation, and |
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air conditioning; |
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(3) public services, which includes courses directly |
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related to health sciences and occupations, education and training, |
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law enforcement, and culinary arts and hospitality; |
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(4) arts and humanities, which includes courses |
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directly related to political science, world languages, cultural |
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studies, English literature, history, and fine arts; and |
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(5) multidisciplinary studies, which allows a student |
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to: |
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(A) select courses from the curriculum of each |
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endorsement area described by Subdivisions (1) through (4); and |
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(B) earn credits in a variety of advanced courses |
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from multiple content areas sufficient to complete the |
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distinguished level of achievement under the foundation high school |
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program. |
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(c-5) A student may earn a performance acknowledgment on the |
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student's [diploma and] transcript by satisfying the requirements |
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for that acknowledgment adopted by the State Board of Education by |
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rule. An acknowledgment under this subsection may be earned: |
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(1) for outstanding performance: |
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(A) in a dual credit course; |
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(B) in bilingualism and biliteracy; |
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(C) on a college advanced placement test or |
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international baccalaureate examination; or |
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(D) on the PSAT, the ACT-Plan, the SAT, or the |
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ACT; or |
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(2) for earning a nationally or internationally |
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recognized business or industry certification or license. |
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(e-1) A school district shall clearly indicate a |
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distinguished level of achievement under the foundation high school |
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program as described by Subsection (b-15), an endorsement described |
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by Subsection (c-1), and a performance acknowledgment described by |
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Subsection (c-5) on the [diploma and] transcript of a student who |
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satisfies the applicable requirements. The State Board of Education |
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shall adopt rules as necessary to administer this subsection. |
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SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with a high school |
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diploma issued at the end of the 2014-2015 school year. |
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SECTION 3. 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. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 181 was passed by the House on April |
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9, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 143, Nays 0, 2 present, not |
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voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 181 was passed by the Senate on May |
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11, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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APPROVED: _____________________ |
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Date |
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_____________________ |
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Governor |