Honorable Dan Huberty, Chair, House Committee on Public Education
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB136 by Bell (Relating to inclusion of career and technology education and workforce training in the mission of public education.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend Education Code Sec. 4.01 (b), which lists ten objectives for public education in Texas. The bill would amend objective four to state that through the state's curriculum, students should be "prepared to succeed in a variety of postsecondary activities, including employment, workforce training, and enrollment in institutions of higher education." The bill would also add a new objective that the State Board of Education, the Texas Education Agency (TEA), and commissioner of education should assist school districts and charter schools in providing career and technology education (CTE) and workforce training opportunities.
According to TEA, the agency and the SBOE already conduct activities consistent with the bill's requirements.
The bill would take effect immediately if it received a two-thirds vote in each house of the Legislature. Otherwise it would take effect September 1, 2017.
Local Government Impact
According to TEA, there are between 200 and 300 school districts that do not currently offer CTE programs. To the degree that those school districts expand the services they provide to satisfy the amended objectives, those districts could see increased costs. These costs could vary widely depending on the type of courses the district begins to offer to fulfill the requirements of the bill.