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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a workforce high school diploma program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 28, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 28.0255 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 28.0255. WORKFORCE HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA PROGRAM. (a) |
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The State Board of Education, in coordination with the Texas Higher |
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Education Coordinating Board, shall by rule develop a workforce |
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high school diploma program under which students who have not |
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received a high school diploma and who have successfully completed |
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a workforce certificate course of study as described by Subsection |
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(b) may receive a high school diploma as provided by this section. |
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(b) For purposes of this section, a workforce certificate |
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course of study is a sequential course of study of at least 30 |
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credit hours in a career and technical education program offered by |
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a public junior college that leads to industry or career |
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certification. |
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(c) In adopting rules to develop the program under |
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Subsection (a), the State Board of Education, in coordination with |
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the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, shall approve a |
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variety of career and technical education programs described by |
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Subsection (b). |
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(d) A person is eligible to participate in a workforce high |
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school diploma program under this section if the person: |
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(1) is at least 18 years of age; |
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(2) for the preceding 12 months has not been enrolled |
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in high school; and |
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(3) has satisfactorily completed at least one-half of |
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the credits required in a high school program curriculum under |
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Section 28.025. |
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(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, a |
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person is eligible to receive a high school diploma under this |
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section if the student: |
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(1) satisfactorily completes a workforce certificate |
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course of study described by Subsection (b); and |
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(2) complies with any additional requirements |
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provided by rule by the State Board of Education, in coordination |
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with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, including |
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assessment or other accountability requirements. |
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(f) The school district in which an eligible person resides |
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shall issue to that person a high school diploma as provided by this |
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subsection. The State Board of Education, in coordination with the |
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Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, shall by rule adopt the |
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form and designate the title of a diploma issued under this section. |
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The commissioner shall adopt rules as necessary to authorize school |
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districts to issue diplomas to eligible students under this |
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section. |
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SECTION 2. 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, 2013. |