Honorable Joe Straus, Speaker of the House, House of Representatives
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB3593 by Bernal (Relating to instruction in career and technology education provided by public schools, including instruction in technology applications, cybersecurity, and computer coding, and to consideration of completed practicums and internships in school accountability ratings.), As Passed 2nd House
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Education Code to include a technology applications course on cybersecurity adopted or selected by the State Board of Education (SBOE) as part of career and technical education (CTE) in the enrichment curriculum for kindergarten through Grade 12 and require the State Board of Education (SBOE) to take associated action. The bill would allow districts to offer a course in cybersecurity that is approved by the local board of trustees without approval by the SBOE if the district partners with a public or private institution of higher education (IHE) that offers an undergraduate degree program in cybersecurity to develop and provide the course.
The bill would allow a teacher and a school district to qualify for a subsidy for certification examination if the teacher passes an examination related to cybersecurity. The bill would amend the fourth domain of the accountability system to include the percentage of students who successfully completed a practicum or internship approved by the SBOE as a measure of performance for high school campuses and districts that include high school campuses. The bill would take effect immediately if passed with necessary voting margins, or September 1, 2017, and would apply beginning in school year 2017-18.
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) estimates initial development costs to implement the legislation. In addition, TEA estimates additional state cost for the Foundation School Program related to the inclusion of cybersecurity courses as a component of the CTE allotment. However, this analysis assumes the TEA can absorb these costs within existing resources and that based on available data will not be significant. The THECB and IHEs indicate the provisions of the bill can be implemented within existing resources.
Local Government Impact
TEA estimates that school districts voluntarily implementing cybersecurity or coding courses would incur costs for additional staff, facilities, and training required for implementation. However, these costs would vary from district to district depending on a district's existing staff and resources.
Source Agencies:
701 Texas Education Agency, 781 Higher Education Coordinating Board, 710 Texas A&M University System Administrative and General Offices, 720 The University of Texas System Administration, 758 Texas State University System, 768 Texas Tech University System Administration, 769 University of North Texas System Administration, 783 University of Houston System Administration