H.B. No. 20

AN ACT

relating to establishing the Applied Sciences Pathway program.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 29, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 29.914 to read as follows:

Sec. 29.914. APPLIED SCIENCES PATHWAY PROGRAM. (a) In this section:

(1) "Certificate program" and "institution of higher education" have the meanings assigned by Section 61.003.

(2) "Program" means the Applied Sciences Pathway program established under this section.

(b) The commissioner shall establish and administer the Applied Sciences Pathway program to provide opportunities for students to concurrently earn high school diplomas and certificates from institutions of higher education.

(c) The commissioner shall approve for participation in the program partnerships between school districts or open-enrollment charter schools and institutions of higher education to provide courses in a non-duplicative sequence of progressive achievement that lead to:

(1) a high school diploma; and

(2) completion of a certificate program with a successful job placement rate in high-wage, high-growth jobs in one of the following industries:

(A) plumbing and pipe fitting;

(B) electrical;

(C) welding;

(D) sheet metal;

(E) carpentry;

(F) masonry;

(G) diesel and heavy equipment;

(H) aviation maintenance;

(I) heating, ventilation, and air conditioning;

(J) construction management and inspection;

(K) mechanical and aerospace engineering;

(L) industrial maintenance and processes;

(M) robotics and automation;

(N) information technology and cybersecurity;

(O) oil and gas exploration and production;

(P) refining and chemical processes;

(Q) transportation distribution and logistics;

(R) manufacturing and industrial technology;

(S) electronics technology; or

(T) automotive technology.

(c-1) Beginning with the 2027-2028 school year, the commissioner may revise the industries approved for purposes of Subsection (c)(2) once every five years to reflect current labor market trends.

(d) A partnership participating in the program must:

(1) enable the school district or open-enrollment charter school to provide at least one course of study described by Subsection (c) through a partnership with an institution of higher education under the program;

(2) provide for a course of study described by Subsection (c) that enables a participating student in grade level 11 or 12 to concurrently:

(A) enroll in a certificate program described by Subsection (c)(2) at the partnering institution of higher education under which the student may receive instruction from an instructor employed by the institution and any appropriate work-based learning opportunities from the institution and earn:

(i) a level one or level two certificate, as defined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board; or

(ii) a credential recognized as a credential of value by Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board rule and approved by the commissioner for purposes of the program; and

(B) satisfy high school graduation requirements and receive a high school diploma;

(3) require the partnering school district or open-enrollment charter school to permit all district or school students in grade level 11 or 12 to enroll in a course of study provided under Subdivision (2);

(4) be governed by an institutional agreement between the partnering school district or open-enrollment charter school and institution of higher education that meets the requirements for a dual credit partnership adopted by Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board rule; and

(5) meet any other requirements established by commissioner rule.

(e) Except as provided by Subsection (e-1), the commissioner may approve the substitution of a credit in a subject area required for high school graduation under Section 28.025 with a credit in a career and technology education course provided by an institution of higher education under the program that substantially covers the essential knowledge and skills of the course for which it is substituted. This subsection may not be construed to limit the number of substituted credits a student may earn while participating in the program.

(e-1) Before a student may earn substituted credit under Subsection (e) for a secondary-level course in a subject described by Section 28.025(b-1)(1), (2), (3), or (4), the student must perform satisfactorily on each end-of-course assessment instrument required for courses in the corresponding subject that precede the course for which the student seeks substituted credit in the district's prescribed course sequence.

(f) A career and technology education course authorized as a substitute credit under Subsection (e) may not count:

(1) for more than one credit toward the student's high school graduation requirements; or

(2) as a credit for more than one subject area.

(g) Time that a student spends participating in the program is counted as part of the minimum number of instructional hours required for a student to be considered a full-time student in average daily attendance for purposes of Section 48.005.

(h) This section may not be construed to:

(1) prevent a student's participation in career and technology education or dual credit courses before the student begins participating in the program; or

(2) authorize the commissioner to require approval by the commissioner for partnerships between school districts or open-enrollment charter schools and institutions of higher education for purposes other than the program, including partnerships to provide dual credit courses.

(i) The commissioner shall adopt rules as necessary to administer the program.

(j) This section expires September 1, 2031.

SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2025-2026 school year.

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 September 1, 2025.

______________________________ ______________________________

President of the Senate Speaker of the House

I certify that H.B. No. 20 was passed by the House on April 16, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 144, Nays 1, 1 present, not voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B. No. 20 on May 30, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 134, Nays 0, 2 present, not voting.

______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House

I certify that H.B. No. 20 was passed by the Senate, with amendments, on May 29, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.

______________________________ Secretary of the Senate APPROVED: __________________

Date

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Governor