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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to establishing the Applied Sciences Pathway program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 29, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 29.914 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 29.914. APPLIED SCIENCES PATHWAY PROGRAM. (a) In this |
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section: |
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(1) "Certificate program" and "institution of higher |
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education" have the meanings assigned by Section 61.003. |
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(2) "Program" means the Applied Sciences Pathway |
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program established under this section. |
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(b) The commissioner shall establish and administer the |
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Applied Sciences Pathway program to provide opportunities for |
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students to concurrently earn high school diplomas and certificates |
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from institutions of higher education. |
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(c) The commissioner shall approve for participation in the |
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program partnerships between school districts or open-enrollment |
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charter schools and institutions of higher education to provide |
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courses in a non-duplicative sequence of progressive achievement |
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that lead to: |
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(1) a high school diploma; and |
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(2) completion of a certificate program with a |
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successful job placement rate in high-wage, high-growth jobs in one |
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of the following industries: |
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(A) plumbing and pipe fitting; |
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(B) electrical; |
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(C) welding; |
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(D) sheet metal; |
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(E) carpentry; |
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(F) masonry; |
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(G) diesel and heavy equipment; |
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(H) aviation maintenance; |
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(I) heating, ventilation, and air conditioning; |
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or |
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(J) construction management and inspection. |
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(d) A partnership participating in the program must: |
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(1) enable the school district or open-enrollment |
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charter school to provide at least one course of study described by |
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Subsection (c) through a partnership with an institution of higher |
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education under the program; |
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(2) provide for a course of study described by |
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Subsection (c) that enables a participating student in grade level |
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11 or 12 to concurrently: |
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(A) enroll in a certificate program described by |
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Subsection (c)(2) at the partnering institution of higher education |
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under which the student may receive instruction from an instructor |
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employed by the institution and any appropriate work-based learning |
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opportunities from the institution and earn: |
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(i) a level one or level two certificate, as |
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defined by the commissioner; or |
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(ii) another certificate approved by |
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commissioner rule; and |
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(B) satisfy high school graduation requirements |
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and receive a high school diploma; |
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(3) require the partnering school district or |
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open-enrollment charter school to permit all district or school |
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students in grade level 11 or 12 to enroll in a course of study |
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provided under Subdivision (2); |
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(4) be governed by an articulation agreement between |
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the partnering school district or open-enrollment charter school |
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and institution of higher education; and |
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(5) meet any other requirements established by |
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commissioner rule. |
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(e) A course of study provided under the program must be |
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provided at no cost to the student. |
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(f) The commissioner may approve the substitution of one |
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credit in a subject area required for high school graduation under |
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Section 28.025 with one credit in a career and technology education |
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course provided by an institution of higher education under the |
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program that substantially covers the essential knowledge and |
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skills of the course for which it is substituted. |
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(g) A career and technology education course authorized as a |
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substitute credit under Subsection (f) may not count: |
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(1) for more than one credit toward the student's high |
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school graduation requirements; or |
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(2) as a credit for more than one subject area. |
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(h) Time that a student spends participating in the program |
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is counted as part of the minimum number of instructional hours |
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required for a student to be considered a full-time student in |
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average daily attendance for purposes of Section 48.005. |
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(i) Nothing in this section may be construed to prevent a |
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student's participation in career and technology education courses |
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before the student begins participating in the program. |
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(j) The commissioner shall adopt rules as necessary to |
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administer the program. |
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SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2025-2026 |
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school year. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |