81R8598 CAS-D
 
  By: Brown of Brazos H.B. No. 1216
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to curriculum requirements for the recommended and
  advanced public high school programs.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 28.025(b-1), Education Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (b-1)  The State Board of Education by rule shall require
  that:
               (1)  [except as provided by Subsection (b-2),] the
  curriculum requirements for the recommended and advanced high
  school programs under Subsection (a) include a requirement that
  students successfully complete:
                     (A)  a science and mathematics curriculum that
  prescribes, among other requirements established by the board,
  successful completion of  four courses in mathematics and four
  courses in science, from among courses approved for each subject by
  the board [of the foundation curriculum under Section
  28.002(a)(1)];
                     (B)  a career and technology curriculum
  that prescribes, among other requirements established by the
  board, successful completion of four career and technology courses,
  three courses in mathematics, and three courses in science, from
  among courses approved for each subject by the board; or
                     (C)  a humanities curriculum that prescribes,
  among other requirements established by the board, successful
  completion of:
                           (i)  courses in English language arts,
  social studies, languages other than English, and fine arts, from
  among courses approved for each subject by the board; and
                           (ii)  three courses in mathematics and three
  courses in science from among courses approved for each subject by
  the board; and
               (2)  one or more courses offered in the required
  curriculum for the recommended and advanced high school programs
  include a research writing component.
         SECTION 2.  Section 28.025(b-2), Education Code, is
  repealed.
         SECTION 3.  Not later than January 1, 2010, the State Board
  of Education shall adopt rules as required by Section 28.025(b-1),
  Education Code, as amended by this Act. The rules shall provide
  that the curriculum requirements for the recommended and advanced
  high school programs adopted under that subsection apply to a
  student regardless of the school year in which the student entered
  the ninth grade.
         SECTION 4.  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, 2009.