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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to public high school graduation, including curriculum |
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requirements for graduation. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 7.062(e), Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(e) The rules must: |
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(1) limit the amount of assistance provided through a |
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grant to not more than: |
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(A) for a construction project, $200 per square |
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foot of the science laboratory to be constructed; or |
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(B) for a renovation project, $100 per square |
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foot of the science laboratory to be renovated; |
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(2) require a school district to demonstrate, as a |
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condition of eligibility for a grant, that the existing district |
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science laboratories are insufficient in number to comply with the |
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curriculum requirements imposed for the recommended and advanced |
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high school programs under Section 28.025 [28.025(b-1)(1)]; and |
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(3) provide for ranking school districts that apply |
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for grants on the basis of wealth per student and giving priority in |
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the award of grants to districts with low wealth per student. |
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SECTION 2. Section 28.002(n), Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(n) The State Board of Education may by rule develop and |
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implement a plan designed to incorporate career and technology |
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education [foundation] curriculum requirements into the foundation |
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[career and technology education] curriculum under Subsections |
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[Subsection] (a)(1)(B) and (C) [(a)(2)(E)]. |
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SECTION 3. Sections 28.0022(a), (d), (e), and (f), |
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Education Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(a) Not later than November 1, 2013 [2007], the agency shall |
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establish a panel under this section to[:
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[(1) review and] recommend [revisions to the] career |
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and technical education requirements [curriculum] under Section |
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28.025(b-4) [28.002(a)(2)(E); and
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[(2)
review and recommend revisions for the program in
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which high schools and articulated postsecondary institutions
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allow high school students to take advanced technical credit
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courses]. |
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(d) Not later than December 31, 2013 [November 1, 2008], the |
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panel shall: |
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(1) make the recommendations [complete the review as] |
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required by this section regarding [of:
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[(A)] the career and technical education |
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curriculum requirements under Section 28.025(b-4)[; and
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[(B)
the program under which high schools and
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articulated postsecondary institutions allow high school students
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to take advanced technical credit courses]; and |
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(2) make recommendations to the State Board of |
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Education as necessary to: |
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(A) maintain [increase] the academic rigor of the |
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career and technical education curriculum under Section |
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28.002(a)(2)(E); and |
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(B) [improve and] increase participation in the |
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program under which high schools and articulated postsecondary |
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institutions allow high school students to take advanced technical |
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credit courses. |
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(e) [Not later than September 1, 2009, the State Board of
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Education by rule shall revise the essential knowledge and skills
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of the career and technical education curriculum as provided by
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Section 28.002(c) based on the recommendations of the panel under
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Subsection (d).] The State Board of Education shall require school |
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districts to provide instruction in the career and technical |
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education curriculum, based on recommendations made [as revised] |
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under this section [subsection], beginning with the 2014-2015 |
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[2010-2011] school year. |
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(f) This section expires September 1, 2016 [2014]. |
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SECTION 4. Section 28.003(b), Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(b) In this section, "educational program" means a course or |
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series of courses in the required curriculum under Section 28.002[,
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other than a fine arts course under Section 28.002(a)(2)(D) or a
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career and technology course under Section 28.002(a)(2)(E)]. |
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SECTION 5. The heading to Section 28.014, Education Code, |
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is amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 28.014. COLLEGE AND WORKFORCE PREPARATORY COURSES. |
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SECTION 6. Sections 28.014(a) and (b), Education Code, are |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The commissioner of education, [and] the commissioner |
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of higher education, and the chairman of the Texas Workforce |
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Commission shall [develop and] recommend to the State Board of |
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Education for adoption under Section 28.002 the essential knowledge |
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and skills of courses in college and career preparatory |
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mathematics, science, social studies, and English language arts. |
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The courses must be designed: |
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(1) for students [at the 12th grade level] who do not |
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meet college readiness standards on an end-of-course assessment |
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instrument required under Section 39.023(c); and |
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(2) to prepare students for success: |
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(A) at an institution of higher education that |
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offers a two-year or four-year undergraduate program; or |
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(B) in a postsecondary technical program [in
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entry-level college courses]. |
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(b) A student who successfully completes a course developed |
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under this section may use the credit earned in the course toward |
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satisfying the applicable mathematics or science curriculum |
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requirement for graduation from [the recommended or advanced] high |
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school [program] under Section 28.025. |
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SECTION 7. Section 28.025, Education Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsections (a), (b), (b-1), (b-2), (b-3), (b-4), (b-5), |
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(b-6), (b-7), (b-8), (b-9), (b-10), (e), and (g) and adding |
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Subsections (b-12), (b-13), and (b-14) to read as follows: |
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(a) The State Board of Education by rule shall determine |
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curriculum requirements for the minimum high school program, the |
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recommended high school programs, and the advanced high school |
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program [programs] that are consistent with the required curriculum |
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under Section 28.002. Subject to Subsection (b-1), the State Board |
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of Education shall designate the specific courses in the foundation |
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curriculum required for each [a student participating in the
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minimum, recommended, or advanced] high school program. Except as |
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provided by Subsection (b-1), the State Board of Education may not |
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designate a specific course or a specific number of credits in the |
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enrichment curriculum as requirements for the recommended program. |
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(b) A school district shall ensure that each student enrolls |
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in the courses necessary to complete the curriculum requirements |
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identified by the State Board of Education under Subsection (a) for |
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a [the] recommended high school program or the advanced high school |
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program unless: |
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(1) the district has complied with Subsection (b-7); |
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(2) the student, the student's parent or other person |
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standing in parental relation to the student, and a school |
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counselor or school administrator agree in writing signed by each |
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party that the student should be permitted to take courses under the |
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minimum high school program; and |
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(3) the student: |
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(A) [(1)] is at least 16 years of age; |
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(B) [(2)] has completed two credits required for |
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graduation in each subject of the foundation curriculum under |
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Section 28.002(a)(1); or |
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(C) [(3)] has failed to be promoted to the tenth |
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grade one or more times as determined by the school district. |
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(b-1) The State Board of Education by rule shall require |
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that: |
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(1) except as provided by Subsection (b-2), the |
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curriculum requirements for the recommended and advanced high |
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school programs under Subsection (a) include a requirement that |
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students successfully complete at least 26 credits, including: |
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(A) [four credits in each subject of the
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foundation curriculum under Section 28.002(a)(1), including] at |
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least one-half credit in government and at least one-half credit in |
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economics [to meet the social studies requirement]; |
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(B) for the recommended high school programs |
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[program], two credits in the same language in a language other than |
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English under Section 28.002(a)(2)(A) and, for the advanced high |
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school program, three credits in the same language in a language |
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other than English under Section 28.002(a)(2)(A); and |
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(C) for the recommended high school programs |
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[program], at least six elective credits and, for the advanced high |
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school program, five elective credits; |
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(2) one or more credits offered in the required |
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curriculum for the recommended and advanced high school programs |
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include a research or technical writing component; and |
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(3) the curriculum requirements for the minimum high |
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school program, the recommended high school programs, and the |
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advanced high school program [programs] under Subsection (a) |
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include a requirement that students successfully complete: |
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(A) one credit in fine arts under Section |
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28.002(a)(2)(D); and |
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(B) except as provided by Subsection (b-11), one |
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credit in physical education under Section 28.002(a)(2)(C). |
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(b-2) In adopting rules under this section [Subsection
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(b-1)], the State Board of Education shall allow a student to comply |
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with [the] curriculum requirements for a mathematics or science |
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course [under Subsection (b-1)(1) taken after the successful
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completion of Algebra I and geometry and either after the
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successful completion of or concurrently with Algebra II or a
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science course under Subsection (b-1)(1) taken after the successful
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completion of biology and chemistry and either after the successful
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completion of or concurrently with physics] by successfully |
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completing a [an advanced] career and technical course designated |
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by the State Board of Education as containing sufficiently |
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[substantively similar and] rigorous academic content or offered |
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under Section 130.008. [A student may use the option provided by
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this subsection for not more than two courses.] |
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(b-3) In adopting rules to provide students with high school |
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program options under this section [the option described by
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Subsection (b-1)(1)(A)], the State Board of Education must approve |
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a [variety of mathematics and science courses that may be taken
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after the completion of Algebra II and physics to comply with the] |
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recommended high school program option that requires four credits |
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in each subject of the foundation curriculum under Section |
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28.002(a)(1) [requirements]. |
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(b-4) In adopting rules to provide students with high school |
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program options under this section, the State Board of Education |
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must approve a second recommended high school program option that |
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requires three credits in each subject of the foundation curriculum |
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under Section 28.002(a)(1), emphasizes postsecondary workforce |
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readiness, and requires applied career and technology education |
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courses covering the essential knowledge and skills for career and |
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technology education identified under Section 28.002. Under the |
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recommended high school program option approved under this |
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subsection, the board shall require that a student earn credit in at |
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least two courses that qualify for postsecondary education credit |
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under Section 130.008, subject to Subsection (b-14) [A school
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district may offer the curriculum described in Subsection
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(b-1)(1)(A) in an applied manner.
Courses delivered in an applied
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manner must cover the essential knowledge and skills, and the
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student shall be administered the applicable end-of-course
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assessment instrument as provided by Sections 39.023(c) and
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39.025]. |
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(b-5) In adopting rules to provide students with high school |
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program options under this section, the State Board of Education |
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must approve a third recommended high school program option that |
|
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requires three credits in each subject of the foundation curriculum |
|
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under Section 28.002(a)(1) and also emphasizes fine arts. Under the |
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recommended high school program option approved under this |
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subsection, the board shall require that a student earn credit in at |
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least two courses that qualify for postsecondary education credit |
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in fine arts under Section 130.008, subject to Subsection (b-14) [A
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school district may offer a mathematics or science course to be
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taken by a student after completion of Algebra II and physics to
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comply with the recommended program requirements in Subsection
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(b-1)(1)(A).
A course approved under this subsection must be
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endorsed by an institution of higher education as a course for which
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the institution would award course credit or as a prerequisite for a
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course for which the institution would award course credit]. |
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(b-6) In adopting rules to provide students with the high |
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school program options under this section, the State Board of |
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Education must approve a fourth recommended high school program |
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option that allows a student, in accordance with any eligibility |
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requirements the board adopts under this subsection, to change from |
|
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an earlier selected high school program and combine earned credits |
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under the recommended high school programs approved under |
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Subsections (b-3), (b-4), and (b-5). Under the recommended high |
|
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school program option approved under this subsection, the board |
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shall require that a student earn credit in at least two courses |
|
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that qualify for postsecondary education credit under Section |
|
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130.008, subject to Subsection (b-14). |
|
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(b-7) Before a student's parent or other person standing in |
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parental relation to the student may agree that the student be |
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permitted to take courses under the minimum high school program as |
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provided by Subsection (b), a school district must provide written |
|
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notice to the parent or person standing in parental relation |
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explaining the benefits of the recommended high school |
|
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program. The notice shall be developed by the agency and must[:
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[(1)] be printed in English and Spanish[;] and |
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[(2)] require that the student's parent or person |
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standing in parental relation to the student sign a confirmation of |
|
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receipt and return the confirmation to the student's campus. A |
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student agreeing to take courses under the minimum high school |
|
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program as provided by Subsection (b) may, on request, resume |
|
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taking courses under a recommended high school program. |
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(b-8) [(b-7)] The State Board of Education, in coordination |
|
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with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, shall adopt |
|
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rules to ensure that a student may comply with the curriculum |
|
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requirements under the minimum, recommended, or advanced high |
|
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school programs [program] for each subject of the foundation |
|
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curriculum under Section 28.002(a)(1) and for languages other than |
|
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English under Section 28.002(a)(2)(A) by successfully completing |
|
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appropriate courses in the core curriculum of an institution of |
|
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higher education under Section 61.822. |
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[(b-8)
A student agreeing to take courses under the minimum
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high school program as provided by Subsection (b) may, upon
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request, resume taking courses under the recommended high school
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program.] |
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(b-9) A [The agency shall establish a pilot program allowing
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a student attending school in a county with a population of more
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than one million and in which more than 75 percent of the population
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resides in a single municipality to satisfy the] fine arts credit |
|
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required under Subsection (b-1)(3)(A) or (b-5) may be satisfied by |
|
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a student's participation [participating] in a fine arts program |
|
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not provided by the school district in which the student is |
|
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enrolled. The fine arts program may be provided on or off a school |
|
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campus and outside the regular school day. [Not later than December
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1, 2010, the agency shall provide to the legislature a report
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regarding the pilot program, including the feasibility of expanding
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the pilot program statewide.] |
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(b-10) A school district [, with the approval of the
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commissioner,] may allow a student to comply with the curriculum |
|
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requirements for the physical education credit required under |
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Subsection (b-1)(3)(B) by participating in a private or |
|
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commercially sponsored physical activity program provided on or off |
|
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a school campus and outside the regular school day. |
|
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(b-12) The agency shall provide school counselors with |
|
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information necessary to support students and parents in choosing a |
|
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high school program under Section 28.025. The information must |
|
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identify postsecondary education and career opportunities, |
|
|
including information on the benefits provided by two-year and |
|
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four-year higher education programs, postsecondary career and |
|
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technical education programs, career-education programs, and |
|
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skilled workforce careers. The agency shall collaborate with the |
|
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Texas Workforce Commission and the Texas Higher Education |
|
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Coordinating Board in identifying existing information that may be |
|
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used for purposes of this subsection or, as necessary, developing |
|
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new material. |
|
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(b-13) In adopting rules under this section, the State Board |
|
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of Education shall allow a student to participate, through distance |
|
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learning, in courses that qualify for postsecondary education |
|
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credit. |
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(b-14) The commissioner may waive the postsecondary |
|
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education requirements under Subsection (b-4), (b-5), or (b-6) if |
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the commissioner determines that sufficient courses are not |
|
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available to students participating in the recommended high school |
|
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programs under that subsection. |
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(e) Each school district shall report the academic |
|
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achievement record of students [who have completed a minimum,
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recommended, or advanced high school program] on transcript forms |
|
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adopted by the State Board of Education. The transcript forms |
|
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adopted by the board must be designed to clearly differentiate |
|
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between each of the high school programs and identify whether a |
|
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student received a diploma [or a certificate of coursework
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completion]. |
|
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(g) If a student, other than a student permitted to take |
|
|
courses under the minimum high school program as provided by |
|
|
Subsection (b), is unable to complete one of the recommended high |
|
|
school programs or the advanced high school program solely because |
|
|
necessary courses were unavailable to the student at the |
|
|
appropriate times in the student's high school career as a result of |
|
|
course scheduling, lack of enrollment capacity, or another cause |
|
|
not within the student's control, the school district shall |
|
|
indicate that fact on the student's transcript form described by |
|
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Subsection (e). |
|
|
SECTION 8. Section 28.0253(e), Education Code, is amended |
|
|
to read as follows: |
|
|
(e) A student who receives a high school diploma through the |
|
|
pilot program is considered to have completed a [the] recommended |
|
|
high school program adopted under Section 28.025 [28.025(a)]. The |
|
|
student is not guaranteed admission to any institution of higher |
|
|
education or to any academic program at an institution of higher |
|
|
education solely on the basis of having received the diploma |
|
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through the program. |
|
|
SECTION 9. Section 29.096(e), Education Code, is amended to |
|
|
read as follows: |
|
|
(e) The commissioner shall establish minimum standards for |
|
|
a local collaborative agreement, including a requirement that the |
|
|
agreement must be signed by an authorized school district or |
|
|
open-enrollment charter school officer and an authorized |
|
|
representative of each of the other participating entities that is |
|
|
a partner in the collaboration. The program must: |
|
|
(1) limit participation in the program to students |
|
|
authorized to participate by a parent or other person standing in |
|
|
parental relationship; |
|
|
(2) have as a primary goal graduation from high school |
|
|
under at least one of the recommended high school programs |
|
|
[program]; |
|
|
(3) provide for local businesses or other employers to |
|
|
offer paid employment or internship opportunities and advanced |
|
|
career and vocational training; |
|
|
(4) include an outreach component and a lead |
|
|
educational staff member to identify and involve eligible students |
|
|
and public and private entities in participating in the program; |
|
|
(5) serve a population of students of which at least 50 |
|
|
percent are identified as students at risk of dropping out of |
|
|
school, as described by Section 29.081(d); |
|
|
(6) allocate not more than 15 percent of grant funds |
|
|
and matching funds, as determined by the commissioner, to |
|
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administrative expenses; |
|
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(7) include matching funds from any of the |
|
|
participating entities; and |
|
|
(8) include any other requirements as determined by |
|
|
the council. |
|
|
SECTION 10. Section 29.182(b), Education Code, is amended |
|
|
to read as follows: |
|
|
(b) The state plan must include procedures designed to |
|
|
ensure that: |
|
|
(1) all secondary and postsecondary students have the |
|
|
opportunity to participate in career and technology education |
|
|
programs; |
|
|
(2) the state complies with requirements for |
|
|
supplemental federal career and technology education funding; |
|
|
[and] |
|
|
(3) career and technology education is established as |
|
|
a part of the total education system of this state and constitutes |
|
|
an option for student learning that provides a rigorous course of |
|
|
study consistent with the required curriculum under Section 28.002 |
|
|
and under which a student may receive specific education in a career |
|
|
and technology program that: |
|
|
(A) incorporates competencies leading to |
|
|
academic and technical skill attainment; |
|
|
(B) leads to: |
|
|
(i) an industry-recognized license, |
|
|
credential, or certificate; or |
|
|
(ii) at the postsecondary level, an |
|
|
associate or baccalaureate degree; |
|
|
(C) includes opportunities for students to earn |
|
|
college credit for coursework; and |
|
|
(D) includes, as an integral part of the program, |
|
|
participation by students and teachers in activities of career and |
|
|
technical student organizations supported by the agency and the |
|
|
State Board of Education; and |
|
|
(4) all secondary students have the opportunity to |
|
|
participate in the recommended high school program option under |
|
|
Section 28.025(b-4). |
|
|
SECTION 11. Section 29.187(b), Education Code, is amended |
|
|
to read as follows: |
|
|
(b) An award granted under this section is not in lieu of a |
|
|
diploma [or certificate of coursework completion] issued under |
|
|
Section 28.025. |
|
|
SECTION 12. Section 29.402(b), Education Code, is amended |
|
|
to read as follows: |
|
|
(b) A person who is under 26 years of age is eligible to |
|
|
enroll in a dropout recovery program under this subchapter if the |
|
|
person: |
|
|
(1) must complete not more than three course credits |
|
|
to complete the curriculum requirements for the minimum high school |
|
|
program, one of the recommended high school programs, or the |
|
|
advanced high school program, as appropriate, for high school |
|
|
graduation; or |
|
|
(2) has failed to perform satisfactorily on an |
|
|
end-of-course assessment instrument administered under Section |
|
|
39.023(c) or an assessment instrument administered under Section |
|
|
39.023(c) as that section existed before amendment by Chapter 1312 |
|
|
(S.B. 1031), Acts of the 80th Legislature, Regular Session, 2007. |
|
|
SECTION 13. Section 29.904(d), Education Code, is amended |
|
|
to read as follows: |
|
|
(d) A plan developed under this section: |
|
|
(1) must establish clear, achievable goals for |
|
|
increasing the percentage of the school district's graduating |
|
|
seniors, particularly the graduating seniors attending a high |
|
|
school described by Subsection (a), who enroll in an institution of |
|
|
higher education for the academic year following graduation; |
|
|
(2) must establish an accurate method of measuring |
|
|
progress toward the goals established under Subdivision (1) that |
|
|
may include the percentage of district high school students and the |
|
|
percentage of students attending a district high school described |
|
|
by Subsection (a) who: |
|
|
(A) are enrolled in a course for which a student |
|
|
may earn college credit, such as an advanced placement or |
|
|
international baccalaureate course or a course offered through |
|
|
concurrent enrollment in high school and at an institution of |
|
|
higher education; |
|
|
(B) are enrolled in courses that meet the |
|
|
curriculum requirements for one of the recommended high school |
|
|
programs or the advanced high school program as determined under |
|
|
Section 28.025; |
|
|
(C) have submitted a free application for federal |
|
|
student aid (FAFSA); |
|
|
(D) are exempt under Section 51.3062(p) or (q) |
|
|
from administration of an assessment instrument under Section |
|
|
51.3062 or have performed successfully on an assessment instrument |
|
|
under Section 51.3062; |
|
|
(E) graduate from high school; |
|
|
(F) graduate from an institution of higher |
|
|
education; and |
|
|
(G) have taken college entrance examinations and |
|
|
the average score of those students on the examinations; |
|
|
(3) must cover a period of at least five years; and |
|
|
(4) may be directed at district students at any level |
|
|
of primary or secondary education. |
|
|
SECTION 14. Section 31.022(a), Education Code, is amended |
|
|
to read as follows: |
|
|
(a) The State Board of Education shall adopt a review and |
|
|
adoption cycle for instructional materials for elementary grade |
|
|
levels, including prekindergarten, and secondary grade levels, for |
|
|
each subject in the required curriculum under Section 28.002. In |
|
|
adopting the cycle, the board: |
|
|
(1) is not required to review and adopt instructional |
|
|
materials for all grade levels in a single year; and |
|
|
(2) shall give priority to instructional materials in |
|
|
the following subjects: |
|
|
(A) foundation curriculum subjects for which the |
|
|
essential knowledge and skills have been substantially revised and |
|
|
for which assessment instruments are required under Subchapter B, |
|
|
Chapter 39[, including career and technology courses that satisfy
|
|
|
foundation curriculum requirements as provided by Section
|
|
|
28.002(n)]; |
|
|
(B) foundation curriculum subjects for which the |
|
|
essential knowledge and skills have been substantially revised[,
|
|
|
including career and technology courses that satisfy foundation
|
|
|
curriculum requirements as provided by Section 28.002(n)]; |
|
|
(C) foundation curriculum subjects not described |
|
|
by Paragraph (A) or (B)[, including career and technology courses
|
|
|
that satisfy foundation curriculum requirements as provided by
|
|
|
Section 28.002(n)]; and |
|
|
(D) enrichment curriculum subjects. |
|
|
SECTION 15. Section 33.007(b), Education Code, is amended |
|
|
to read as follows: |
|
|
(b) During the first school year a student is enrolled in a |
|
|
high school or at the high school level in an open-enrollment |
|
|
charter school, and again during a student's senior year, a |
|
|
counselor shall provide information about higher education to the |
|
|
student and the student's parent or guardian. The information must |
|
|
include information regarding: |
|
|
(1) the importance of higher education; |
|
|
(2) the advantages of completing a [the] recommended |
|
|
high school program or the advanced high school program adopted |
|
|
under Section 28.025 [28.025(a)]; |
|
|
(3) the disadvantages of taking courses to prepare for |
|
|
a high school equivalency examination relative to the benefits of |
|
|
taking courses leading to a high school diploma; |
|
|
(4) financial aid eligibility; |
|
|
(5) instruction on how to apply for federal financial |
|
|
aid; |
|
|
(6) the center for financial aid information |
|
|
established under Section 61.0776; |
|
|
(7) the automatic admission of certain students to |
|
|
general academic teaching institutions as provided by Section |
|
|
51.803; |
|
|
(8) the eligibility and academic performance |
|
|
requirements for the TEXAS Grant as provided by Subchapter M, |
|
|
Chapter 56; and |
|
|
(9) the availability of programs in the district under |
|
|
which a student may earn college credit, including advanced |
|
|
placement programs, dual credit programs, joint high school and |
|
|
college credit programs, and international baccalaureate programs. |
|
|
SECTION 16. Section 39.025(a), Education Code, is amended |
|
|
to read as follows: |
|
|
(a) The commissioner shall adopt rules requiring a student |
|
|
participating in one of the recommended high school programs or the |
|
|
advanced high school program under Section 28.025 to be |
|
|
administered each end-of-course assessment instrument listed in |
|
|
Section 39.023(c) and requiring a student participating in the |
|
|
minimum high school program to be administered an end-of-course |
|
|
assessment instrument listed in Section 39.023(c) only for a course |
|
|
in which the student is enrolled and for which an end-of-course |
|
|
assessment instrument is administered. A student is required to |
|
|
achieve, in each subject in the foundation curriculum under Section |
|
|
28.002(a)(1), a cumulative score that is at least equal to the |
|
|
product of the number of end-of-course assessment instruments |
|
|
administered to the student in that subject and a scale score that |
|
|
indicates satisfactory performance, as determined by the |
|
|
commissioner under Section 39.0241(a). A student must achieve a |
|
|
minimum score as determined by the commissioner to be within a |
|
|
reasonable range of the scale score under Section 39.0241(a) on an |
|
|
end-of-course assessment instrument for the score to count towards |
|
|
the student's cumulative score. For purposes of this subsection, a |
|
|
student's cumulative score is determined using the student's |
|
|
highest score on each end-of-course assessment instrument |
|
|
administered to the student. A student may not receive a high |
|
|
school diploma until the student has performed satisfactorily on |
|
|
the end-of-course assessment instruments in the manner provided |
|
|
under this subsection. This subsection does not require a student |
|
|
to demonstrate readiness to enroll in an institution of higher |
|
|
education. |
|
|
SECTION 17. Section 39.057(a), Education Code, is amended |
|
|
to read as follows: |
|
|
(a) The commissioner shall authorize special accreditation |
|
|
investigations to be conducted: |
|
|
(1) when excessive numbers of absences of students |
|
|
eligible to be tested on state assessment instruments are |
|
|
determined; |
|
|
(2) when excessive numbers of allowable exemptions |
|
|
from the required state assessment instruments are determined; |
|
|
(3) in response to complaints submitted to the agency |
|
|
with respect to alleged violations of civil rights or other |
|
|
requirements imposed on the state by federal law or court order; |
|
|
(4) in response to established compliance reviews of |
|
|
the district's financial accounting practices and state and federal |
|
|
program requirements; |
|
|
(5) when extraordinary numbers of student placements |
|
|
in disciplinary alternative education programs, other than |
|
|
placements under Sections 37.006 and 37.007, are determined; |
|
|
(6) in response to an allegation involving a conflict |
|
|
between members of the board of trustees or between the board and |
|
|
the district administration if it appears that the conflict |
|
|
involves a violation of a role or duty of the board members or the |
|
|
administration clearly defined by this code; |
|
|
(7) when excessive numbers of students in special |
|
|
education programs under Subchapter A, Chapter 29, are assessed |
|
|
through assessment instruments developed or adopted under Section |
|
|
39.023(b); |
|
|
(8) in response to an allegation regarding or an |
|
|
analysis using a statistical method result indicating a possible |
|
|
violation of an assessment instrument security procedure |
|
|
established under Section 39.0301, including for the purpose of |
|
|
investigating or auditing a school district under that section; |
|
|
(9) when a significant pattern of decreased academic |
|
|
performance has developed as a result of the promotion in the |
|
|
preceding two school years of students who did not perform |
|
|
satisfactorily as determined by the commissioner under Section |
|
|
39.0241(a) on assessment instruments administered under Section |
|
|
39.023(a), (c), or (l); |
|
|
(10) when excessive numbers of students graduate under |
|
|
the minimum high school program; |
|
|
(11) when excessive numbers of students eligible to |
|
|
enroll fail to complete [an Algebra II course or] any [other] course |
|
|
determined by the commissioner as distinguishing between students |
|
|
participating in one of the recommended high school programs |
|
|
[program] from students participating in the minimum high school |
|
|
program; |
|
|
(12) when resource allocation practices as evaluated |
|
|
under Section 39.0821 indicate a potential for significant |
|
|
improvement in resource allocation; or |
|
|
(13) as the commissioner otherwise determines |
|
|
necessary. |
|
|
SECTION 18. Section 39.234(a), Education Code, is amended |
|
|
to read as follows: |
|
|
(a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), a school district |
|
|
or campus must use funds allocated under Section 42.160 to: |
|
|
(1) implement or administer a college and workforce |
|
|
readiness program that provides academic support and instruction to |
|
|
prepare underachieving students for entrance into: |
|
|
(A) an institution of higher education that |
|
|
offers a two-year undergraduate program or a four-year |
|
|
undergraduate program; or |
|
|
(B) a postsecondary technical program; |
|
|
(2) implement or administer a program that encourages |
|
|
students to pursue advanced academic opportunities, including |
|
|
rigorous career and technology education programs, early college |
|
|
high school programs and dual credit, advanced placement, and |
|
|
international baccalaureate courses; |
|
|
(3) implement or administer a program that provides |
|
|
opportunities for students to take academically rigorous course |
|
|
work, including four years of mathematics and four years of science |
|
|
at the high school level; |
|
|
(4) implement or administer a program, including |
|
|
online course support and professional development, that aligns the |
|
|
curriculum for grades six through 12 with postsecondary curriculum |
|
|
and expectations; or |
|
|
(5) implement or administer science, technology, |
|
|
engineering, and mathematics (STEM) initiatives and other high |
|
|
school completion and success initiatives in grades six through 12 |
|
|
approved by the commissioner. |
|
|
SECTION 19. Section 51.3062(q-1), Education Code, is |
|
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
|
(q-1) A student who has completed one of the [a] recommended |
|
|
high school programs or the advanced high school program as |
|
|
determined under Section 28.025 and demonstrated the performance |
|
|
standard for college readiness as provided by Section 39.024 on the |
|
|
Algebra II and English III end-of-course assessment instruments is |
|
|
exempt from the requirements of this section with respect to those |
|
|
content areas. The commissioner of higher education by rule shall |
|
|
establish the period for which an exemption under this subsection |
|
|
is valid. |
|
|
SECTION 20. Sections 51.803(a) and (d), Education Code, are |
|
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
|
(a) Subject to Subsection (a-1), each general academic |
|
|
teaching institution shall admit an applicant for admission to the |
|
|
institution as an undergraduate student if the applicant graduated |
|
|
with a grade point average in the top 10 percent of the student's |
|
|
high school graduating class in one of the two school years |
|
|
preceding the academic year for which the applicant is applying for |
|
|
admission and: |
|
|
(1) the applicant graduated from a public or private |
|
|
high school in this state accredited by a generally recognized |
|
|
accrediting organization or from a high school operated by the |
|
|
United States Department of Defense; |
|
|
(2) the applicant: |
|
|
(A) successfully completed: |
|
|
(i) at a public high school, the curriculum |
|
|
requirements established under Section 28.025 for one of the |
|
|
recommended high school programs or the advanced high school |
|
|
program; or |
|
|
(ii) at a high school to which Section |
|
|
28.025 does not apply, a curriculum that is equivalent in content |
|
|
and rigor to one of the recommended high school programs or the |
|
|
advanced high school program; or |
|
|
(B) satisfied ACT's College Readiness Benchmarks |
|
|
on the ACT assessment applicable to the applicant or earned on the |
|
|
SAT assessment a score of at least 1,500 out of 2,400 or the |
|
|
equivalent; and |
|
|
(3) if the applicant graduated from a high school |
|
|
operated by the United States Department of Defense, the applicant |
|
|
is a Texas resident under Section 54.052 or is entitled to pay |
|
|
tuition fees at the rate provided for Texas residents under Section |
|
|
54.241(d) [54.058(d)] for the term or semester to which admitted. |
|
|
(d) For purposes of Subsection (c)(2), a student's official |
|
|
transcript or diploma must, not later than the end of the student's |
|
|
junior year, indicate: |
|
|
(1) whether the student has satisfied or is on |
|
|
schedule to satisfy the requirements of Subsection (a)(2)(A)(i) or |
|
|
(ii), as applicable; or |
|
|
(2) if Subsection (b) applies to the student, whether |
|
|
the student has completed the portion of one of the recommended high |
|
|
school program curricula or the advanced curriculum, or of the |
|
|
curriculum equivalent in content and rigor, as applicable, that was |
|
|
available to the student. |
|
|
SECTION 21. Section 51.807(b), Education Code, is amended |
|
|
to read as follows: |
|
|
(b) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, after |
|
|
consulting with the Texas Education Agency, by rule shall establish |
|
|
standards for determining for purposes of this subchapter: |
|
|
(1) whether a private high school is accredited by a |
|
|
generally recognized accrediting organization; and |
|
|
(2) whether a person completed a high school |
|
|
curriculum that is equivalent in content and rigor to the |
|
|
curriculum requirements established under Section 28.025 for one of |
|
|
the recommended high school programs or the advanced high school |
|
|
program. |
|
|
SECTION 22. Section 56.3041, Education Code, is amended to |
|
|
read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 56.3041. INITIAL ELIGIBILITY OF PERSON GRADUATING FROM |
|
|
HIGH SCHOOL ON OR AFTER MAY 1, 2013, AND ENROLLING IN A GENERAL |
|
|
ACADEMIC TEACHING INSTITUTION. Notwithstanding Section 56.304(a), |
|
|
to be eligible initially for a TEXAS grant, a person graduating from |
|
|
high school on or after May 1, 2013, and enrolling in a general |
|
|
academic teaching institution must: |
|
|
(1) be a resident of this state as determined by |
|
|
coordinating board rules; |
|
|
(2) meet the academic requirements prescribed by |
|
|
Paragraph (A), (B), or (C) as follows: |
|
|
(A) be a graduate of a public or accredited |
|
|
private high school in this state who completed one of the |
|
|
recommended high school programs [program] established under |
|
|
Section 28.025 or its equivalent and have accomplished any two or |
|
|
more of the following: |
|
|
(i) graduation under the advanced high |
|
|
school program established under Section 28.025 or its equivalent, |
|
|
successful completion of the course requirements of the |
|
|
international baccalaureate diploma program, or earning of the |
|
|
equivalent of at least 12 semester credit hours of college credit in |
|
|
high school through courses described in Sections 28.009(a)(1), |
|
|
(2), and (3); |
|
|
(ii) satisfaction of the Texas Success |
|
|
Initiative (TSI) college readiness benchmarks prescribed by the |
|
|
coordinating board under Section 51.3062(f) on any assessment |
|
|
instrument designated by the coordinating board under Section |
|
|
51.3062(c) [or (e)] or qualification for an exemption as described |
|
|
by Section 51.3062(p), (q), or (q-1); |
|
|
(iii) graduation in the top one-third of |
|
|
the person's high school graduating class or graduation from high |
|
|
school with a grade point average of at least 3.0 on a four-point |
|
|
scale or the equivalent; or |
|
|
(iv) completion for high school credit of |
|
|
at least one advanced mathematics course following the successful |
|
|
completion of an Algebra II course[, as permitted by Section
|
|
|
28.025(b-3)], or at least one [advanced] career and technical |
|
|
course, as permitted by Section 28.025(b-2); |
|
|
(B) have received an associate degree from a |
|
|
public or private institution of higher education; or |
|
|
(C) if sufficient money is available, meet the |
|
|
eligibility criteria described by Section 56.304(a)(2)(A); |
|
|
(3) meet financial need requirements established by |
|
|
the coordinating board; |
|
|
(4) be enrolled in an undergraduate degree or |
|
|
certificate program at the general academic teaching institution; |
|
|
(5) except as provided under rules adopted under |
|
|
Section 56.304(h), be enrolled as: |
|
|
(A) an entering undergraduate student for at |
|
|
least three-fourths of a full course load, as determined by the |
|
|
coordinating board, not later than the 16th month after the |
|
|
calendar month in which the person graduated from high school; |
|
|
(B) an entering undergraduate student who |
|
|
entered military service not later than the first anniversary of |
|
|
the date the person graduated from high school and who enrolled for |
|
|
at least three-fourths of a full course load, as determined by the |
|
|
coordinating board, at the general academic teaching institution |
|
|
not later than 12 months after being honorably discharged from |
|
|
military service; or |
|
|
(C) a continuing undergraduate student for at |
|
|
least three-fourths of a full course load, as determined by the |
|
|
coordinating board, not later than the 12th month after the |
|
|
calendar month in which the person received an associate degree |
|
|
from a public or private institution of higher education; |
|
|
(6) have applied for any available financial aid or |
|
|
assistance; and |
|
|
(7) comply with any additional nonacademic |
|
|
requirements adopted by the coordinating board under this |
|
|
subchapter. |
|
|
SECTION 23. Subchapter A, Chapter 56, Education Code, is |
|
|
amended by adding Section 56.010 to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 56.010. REFERENCE TO RECOMMENDED HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM. |
|
|
A reference in this chapter to the recommended high school program |
|
|
means any of the recommended high school programs under Section |
|
|
28.025. |
|
|
SECTION 24. Section 61.792(b), Education Code, is amended |
|
|
to read as follows: |
|
|
(b) To qualify for a scholarship under this section, a |
|
|
student must: |
|
|
(1) have graduated with a grade point average in the |
|
|
top 20 percent of the student's high school graduating class; |
|
|
(2) have graduated from high school with a grade point |
|
|
average of at least 3.5 on a four-point scale or the equivalent in |
|
|
mathematics and science courses offered under one of the |
|
|
recommended high school programs or the advanced high school |
|
|
program under Section 28.025 [28.025(a)]; and |
|
|
(3) maintain an overall grade point average of at |
|
|
least 3.0 on a four-point scale at the general academic teaching |
|
|
institution or the private or independent institution of higher |
|
|
education in which the student is enrolled. |
|
|
SECTION 25. Section 61.852(a), Education Code, is amended |
|
|
to read as follows: |
|
|
(a) A tech-prep program is a program of study that: |
|
|
(1) combines at least two years of secondary education |
|
|
with at least two years of postsecondary education in a |
|
|
nonduplicative, sequential course of study based on the recommended |
|
|
high school program adopted by the State Board of Education under |
|
|
Section 28.025(b-4) [28.025(a)]; |
|
|
(2) integrates academic instruction and vocational |
|
|
and technical instruction; |
|
|
(3) uses work-based and worksite learning where |
|
|
available and appropriate; |
|
|
(4) provides technical preparation in a career field |
|
|
such as engineering technology, applied science, a mechanical, |
|
|
industrial, or practical art or trade, agriculture, health |
|
|
occupations, business, or applied economics; |
|
|
(5) builds student competence in mathematics, |
|
|
science, reading, writing, communications, economics, and |
|
|
workplace skills through applied, contextual academics and |
|
|
integrated instruction in a coherent sequence of courses; |
|
|
(6) leads to an associate degree, two-year |
|
|
postsecondary certificate, or postsecondary two-year |
|
|
apprenticeship with provisions, to the extent applicable, for |
|
|
students to continue toward completion of a baccalaureate degree; |
|
|
and |
|
|
(7) leads to placement in appropriate employment or to |
|
|
further education. |
|
|
SECTION 26. Section 61.855(d), Education Code, is amended |
|
|
to read as follows: |
|
|
(d) A tech-prep program must: |
|
|
(1) be implemented under an articulation agreement |
|
|
between the participants in the consortium; |
|
|
(2) consist of two to four years of secondary school |
|
|
preceding graduation and: |
|
|
(A) two or more years of higher education; or |
|
|
(B) two or more years of apprenticeship following |
|
|
secondary instruction; |
|
|
(3) have a common core of required proficiency based |
|
|
on the recommended high school program adopted by the State Board of |
|
|
Education under Section 28.025(b-4) [28.025(a)], with |
|
|
proficiencies in mathematics, science, reading, writing, |
|
|
communications, and technologies designed to lead to an associate's |
|
|
degree or postsecondary certificate in a specific career field; |
|
|
(4) include the development of tech-prep program |
|
|
curricula for both secondary and postsecondary participants in the |
|
|
consortium that: |
|
|
(A) meets academic standards developed by the |
|
|
state; |
|
|
(B) links secondary schools and two-year |
|
|
postsecondary institutions, and, if practicable, four-year |
|
|
institutions of higher education through nonduplicative sequences |
|
|
of courses in career fields, including the investigation of |
|
|
opportunities for tech-prep students to enroll concurrently in |
|
|
secondary and postsecondary course work; |
|
|
(C) uses, if appropriate and available, |
|
|
work-based or worksite learning in conjunction with business and |
|
|
all aspects of an industry; and |
|
|
(D) uses educational technology and distance |
|
|
learning, as appropriate, to involve each consortium participant |
|
|
more fully in the development and operation of programs; |
|
|
(5) include in-service training for teachers that: |
|
|
(A) is designed to train vocational and technical |
|
|
teachers to effectively implement tech-prep programs; |
|
|
(B) provides for joint training for teachers in |
|
|
the tech-prep consortium; |
|
|
(C) is designed to ensure that teachers and |
|
|
administrators stay current with the needs, expectations, and |
|
|
methods of business and of all aspects of an industry; |
|
|
(D) focuses on training postsecondary education |
|
|
faculty in the use of contextual and applied curricula and |
|
|
instruction; and |
|
|
(E) provides training in the use and application |
|
|
of technology; |
|
|
(6) include training programs for counselors designed |
|
|
to enable counselors to more effectively: |
|
|
(A) provide information to students regarding |
|
|
tech-prep programs; |
|
|
(B) support student progress in completing |
|
|
tech-prep programs; |
|
|
(C) provide information on related employment |
|
|
opportunities; |
|
|
(D) ensure that tech-prep students are placed in |
|
|
appropriate employment; and |
|
|
(E) stay current with the needs, expectations, |
|
|
and methods of business and of all aspects of an industry; |
|
|
(7) provide equal access to the full range of |
|
|
tech-prep programs for individuals who are members of special |
|
|
populations, including by the development of tech-prep program |
|
|
services appropriate to the needs of special populations; and |
|
|
(8) provide for preparatory services that assist |
|
|
participants in tech-prep programs. |
|
|
SECTION 27. Section 61.861(c), Education Code, is amended |
|
|
to read as follows: |
|
|
(c) A course developed for purposes of this section must: |
|
|
(1) provide content that enables a student to develop |
|
|
the relevant and critical skills needed to be prepared for |
|
|
employment or additional training in a high-demand occupation; |
|
|
(2) incorporate college and career readiness skills as |
|
|
part of the curriculum; |
|
|
(3) be offered for dual credit; and |
|
|
(4) satisfy a mathematics or science requirement under |
|
|
one of the recommended high school programs or the advanced high |
|
|
school program as determined under Section 28.025. |
|
|
SECTION 28. Section 61.864, Education Code, is amended to |
|
|
read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 61.864. REVIEW OF COURSES. Courses for which a grant |
|
|
is awarded under this subchapter shall be reviewed by the |
|
|
commissioner of higher education and the commissioner of education, |
|
|
in consultation with the comptroller and the Texas Workforce |
|
|
Commission, once every four years to determine whether the course: |
|
|
(1) is being used by public educational institutions |
|
|
in this state; |
|
|
(2) prepares high school students with the skills |
|
|
necessary for employment in the high-demand occupation and further |
|
|
postsecondary study; and |
|
|
(3) satisfies a mathematics or science requirement for |
|
|
one of the recommended high school programs or the advanced high |
|
|
school program as determined under Section 28.025. |
|
|
SECTION 29. (a) Section 21.044(b), Education Code, as added |
|
|
by Chapter 926 (S.B. 1620), Acts of the 82nd Legislature, Regular |
|
|
Session, 2011, is repealed. |
|
|
(b) The following provisions of the Education Code are |
|
|
repealed: |
|
|
(1) Section 28.002(q); |
|
|
(2) Sections 28.014(c), (d), and (f); |
|
|
(3) Section 28.025(d); |
|
|
(4) Section 28.027; |
|
|
(5) Section 42.154(d); and |
|
|
(6) Section 61.0517. |
|
|
SECTION 30. This Act applies beginning with the 2013-2014 |
|
|
school year. |
|
|
SECTION 31. 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, 2013. |