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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to measures to assist small and rural school districts in |
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implementing a collegiate model and expanding broadband access, |
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including the establishment of the Rural Schools and Communities |
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Technical Assistance Center and a grant program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 30, Education Code, is amended by adding |
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Subchapter F to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER F. RURAL SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE |
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CENTER |
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Sec. 30.401. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "center" |
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means the Rural Schools and Communities Technical Assistance |
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Center. |
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Sec. 30.402. ESTABLISHMENT; PURPOSE. The Rural Schools and |
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Communities Technical Assistance Center is established to assist |
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small and rural school districts with the implementation and |
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expansion of the Collegiate Edu-Nation P-20 System Model for 21st |
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Century School Transformation in cooperation with the agency and to |
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further ensure better economic and life opportunities by |
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facilitating the expansion of broadband development in rural |
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communities. |
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Sec. 30.403. DUTIES OF CENTER. (a) The center shall |
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facilitate the tri-agency alignment for rural students by |
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collaborating with the agency, the Texas Higher Education |
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Coordinating Board, and the Texas Workforce Commission. |
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(b) The center shall assist participating school districts |
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in implementing the Collegiate Edu-Nation P-20 System Model for |
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21st-Century School Transformation to: |
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(1) combat generational poverty by fostering high |
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aspirations and expectations among students, families, and |
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communities for college and career success, with an emphasis on |
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workforce shortage areas; |
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(2) support attainment of the state's master plan for |
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higher education developed under Section 61.051; and |
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(3) support implementation of the Pathways in |
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Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) programs in |
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participating school districts under Subchapter N, Chapter 29. |
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Sec. 30.404. SELECTION OF CENTER. The commissioner shall |
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select a nonprofit organization to serve as the center and support |
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school districts awarded a planning or implementation grant under |
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this subchapter. The selected nonprofit organization must have: |
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(1) an individual on staff who has previously |
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implemented a collegiate model in a rural school district; and |
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(2) a demonstrated history of: |
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(A) successfully managing rural schools; and |
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(B) supporting multiple rural school districts |
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in implementing a collegiate model. |
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Sec. 30.405. PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS. (a) The |
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commissioner shall annually award planning grants to rural or small |
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school districts, as determined by commissioner rule, to plan for |
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the implementation of a collegiate model. |
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(b) The agency shall evaluate each district that receives a |
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planning grant under Subsection (a). If the agency determines that |
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the district successfully completed planning activities, the |
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commissioner shall award the district a one-year grant to implement |
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a collegiate model. |
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(c) The agency shall evaluate each district that receives an |
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implementation grant under Subsection (b). If the agency |
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determines that the district successfully completed implementation |
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activities in the first year of implementation, the commissioner |
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shall award the district an additional one-year implementation |
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grant. |
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Sec. 30.406. EXPECTED OUTCOMES. (a) By the conclusion of |
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the second year of implementation of a collegiate model using a |
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grant awarded under Section 30.405(c), the school district must: |
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(1) have implemented: |
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(A) a dual credit program or a joint high school |
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and college credit program; |
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(B) a Pathways in Technology Early College High |
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School (P-TECH) program under Subchapter N, Chapter 29; |
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(C) a research-based college readiness program |
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for grades 7 through 12; |
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(D) student college and career coaching; |
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(E) a common instructional framework and monthly |
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instructional review and improvement cycles; |
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(F) project-based learning experiences in a |
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majority of courses offered by the district; |
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(G) career and technical education programs; |
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(H) work-based learning opportunities, including |
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paid student apprenticeships in science, technology, engineering, |
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or mathematics workforce shortage areas; |
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(I) formal industry partnerships specific to |
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local workforce needs as identified by regional offices of the |
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Texas Workforce Commission; |
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(J) research-based, nationally norm-referenced |
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formative assessments; or |
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(K) access to a personal laptop or other |
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electronic device for each student; and |
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(2) demonstrate progress toward the goal of 90 percent |
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of graduating students concurrently earning a high school diploma, |
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associate degree, or industry-recognized certification by ensuring |
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that at least 30 percent of high school students enrolled in the |
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district are enrolled in college courses. |
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(b) If a school district that received a grant under Section |
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30.405(c) does not achieve the expected outcomes under Subsection |
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(a), the center shall work with the district to develop and |
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implement an intervention plan to support the district in achieving |
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those outcomes. |
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Sec. 30.407. SUPPORT OF RURAL BROADBAND INITIATIVES. Each |
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school district that receives a grant under Section 30.405 shall |
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work closely with relevant state agencies to assist in expanding |
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access, adoption, and use of broadband in rural areas to benefit |
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educational opportunities and economic development. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |