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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to measures to support public school student academic |
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achievement and career preparation, including measures to improve |
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and support dual-credit courses. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 28.009(b), Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(b) The agency shall coordinate with the Texas Higher |
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Education Coordinating Board as necessary in administering this |
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section. The commissioner may adopt rules as necessary concerning |
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the duties under this section of a school district. The Texas Higher |
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Education Coordinating Board may adopt rules as necessary |
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concerning the duties under this section of a public institution of |
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higher education. A rule may not limit the number of dual credit |
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courses or hours in which a student may enroll while in high school |
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or limit the number of dual credit courses or hours in which a |
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student may enroll each semester or academic year. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 28, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 28.016 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 28.016. INSTRUCTION IN HIGH SCHOOL, COLLEGE, AND |
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CAREER PREPARATION. (a) Each school district shall provide |
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instruction to students in grades seven and eight in preparing for |
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high school, college, and a career. |
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(b) The instruction must include information regarding: |
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(1) the creation of a high school personal graduation |
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plan under Section 28.02121; |
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(2) the distinguished level of achievement described |
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by Section 28.025(b-15); |
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(3) each endorsement described by Section |
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28.025(c-1); |
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(4) college readiness standards; and |
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(5) potential career choices and the education needed |
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to enter those careers. |
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(c) A school district may provide the instruction as a part |
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of any existing course or may establish a new course through which |
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to provide the instruction. |
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SECTION 3. Section 130.008, Education Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsections (g) and (h) to read as follows: |
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(g) A course offered for joint high school and junior |
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college credit under this section must be taught by a qualified |
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instructor approved or selected by the public junior college. For |
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purposes of this subsection, an instructor is qualified if the |
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instructor holds: |
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(1) a doctoral or master's degree in the discipline |
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that is the subject of the course; or |
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(2) a master's degree in another discipline with a |
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concentration that required completion of a minimum of 18 graduate |
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semester hours in the discipline that is the subject of the course. |
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(h) Not later than the 60th day after receipt, a public |
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junior college shall approve or reject an application for approval |
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to teach a course at a high school that is submitted by an |
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instructor employed by the school district, organization, or other |
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person that operates the high school with which the junior college |
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entered into an agreement under this section to offer the course. |
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SECTION 4. Section 303.003(b-2), Labor Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(b-2) In addition to the purposes described by Subsections |
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(b) and (b-1), in each state fiscal biennium, an amount of money |
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from the skills development fund not to exceed five percent of the |
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amount of general revenue appropriated to the skills development |
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fund for that biennium may be used as provided by this |
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subsection. Funds available to the commission from other sources |
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may also be used as provided by this subsection. Funds may be |
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awarded under this subsection to a lower-division institution of |
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higher education to be used under an agreement with a school |
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district, or to a school district to be used under an agreement with |
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a lower-division institution of higher education, to support |
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courses offered for joint high school and college-level credit or |
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offered under a college credit career or technical education |
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program that leads to an industry-recognized license, credential, |
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or certificate. Appropriate uses of funds awarded under this |
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subsection include purchasing or repairing necessary equipment for |
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a course and developing a course curriculum. A course or program |
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supported under this subsection must: |
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(1) have the endorsement of, or a letter of support |
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from, at least one employer in this state; and |
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(2) be targeted to address the needs of high-demand |
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fields or occupations, as identified by the applicable local |
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workforce development board. |
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SECTION 5. Section 28.016, Education Code, as added by this |
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Act, applies beginning with the 2015-2016 school year. |
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SECTION 6. 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. |