By: Johnson S.B. No. 16

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to academic distinction designations under the public school accountability system and the career and technology allotment under the Foundation School Program.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 39.202, Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 39.202. ACADEMIC DISTINCTION DESIGNATION FOR DISTRICTS AND CAMPUSES. The commissioner by rule shall establish an academic distinction designation for districts and campuses for outstanding performance in attainment of postsecondary readiness. The commissioner shall adopt criteria for the designation under this section, including:

(1) percentages of students who:

(A) performed satisfactorily, as determined under the college readiness performance standard under Section 39.0241, on assessment instruments required under Section 39.023(a), (b), (c), or (l), aggregated across grade levels by subject area; or

(B) met the standard for annual improvement, as determined by the agency under Section 39.034, on assessment instruments required under Section 39.023(a), (b), (c), or (l), aggregated across grade levels by subject area, for students who did not perform satisfactorily as described by Paragraph (A);

(2) percentages of:

(A) students who earned a nationally or internationally recognized business or industry certification or license;

(B) students who completed a coherent sequence of career and technical courses;

(C) students who completed a dual credit course or an articulated postsecondary course provided for local credit;

(D) students who achieved applicable College Readiness Benchmarks or the equivalent on the Preliminary Scholastic Assessment Test (PSAT), the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT), the American College Test (ACT), or the ACT-Plan assessment program; [and]

(E) students who received a score on either an advanced placement test or an international baccalaureate examination to be awarded college credit; and

(F) students who completed a Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) program established under Subchapter N, Chapter 29, or another early college high school program; and

(3) other factors for determining sufficient student attainment of postsecondary readiness.

SECTION 2. Section 48.106(a-1), Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a-1) In addition to the amounts under Subsection (a), for each student in average daily attendance, a district is entitled to $150 [$50] for each of the following in which the student is enrolled:

(1) a campus designated as a P-TECH school under Section 29.556; or

(2) a campus that is a member of the New Tech Network and that focuses on project-based learning and work-based education.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect on the 91st day after the last day of the legislative session.