| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to the Texas Workforce Innovation Needs 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 29.922 to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 29.922. TEXAS WORKFORCE INNOVATION NEEDS PROGRAM. (a) |
|
|
In this section, "program" means the Texas Workforce Innovation |
|
|
Needs Program. |
|
|
(b) The Texas Workforce Innovation Needs Program is |
|
|
established to: |
|
|
(1) provide selected school districts and public |
|
|
institutions of higher education with the opportunity to establish |
|
|
innovative programs designed to prepare students for careers for |
|
|
which there is demand in this state; and |
|
|
(2) use the results of those programs to inform the |
|
|
governor, legislature, and commissioner concerning methods for |
|
|
transforming public and higher education in this state by improving |
|
|
student learning and career preparedness. |
|
|
(c) To apply to participate in the program, a school |
|
|
district or public institution of higher education must use the |
|
|
form and apply in the time and manner established by commissioner |
|
|
rule. The application process must require each applicant district |
|
|
or institution of higher education to submit a detailed plan as |
|
|
required by Subsection (d) of the instruction and accountability |
|
|
the applicant would provide under the program. |
|
|
(d) A plan submitted under Subsection (c): |
|
|
(1) must, to the greatest extent appropriate for the |
|
|
grade or higher education levels served under the program: |
|
|
(A) be designed to support improved instruction |
|
|
of and learning by students and provide evidence of the accurate |
|
|
assessment of the quality of learning on campus; |
|
|
(B) focus on engagement of students in |
|
|
competency-based learning as necessary to earn postsecondary |
|
|
credentials, including: |
|
|
(i) career and technical certificates; |
|
|
(ii) associate's degrees; |
|
|
(iii) bachelor's degrees; and |
|
|
(iv) graduate degrees; |
|
|
(C) incorporate career and technical courses |
|
|
into dual enrollment courses or into the early college education |
|
|
program under Section 29.908 to provide students the opportunity to |
|
|
earn a career or technical certificate or associate's degree; |
|
|
(D) describe any waiver of an applicable |
|
|
prohibition, requirement, or restriction for which the district or |
|
|
institution of higher education intends to apply; and |
|
|
(E) include any other information required by |
|
|
commissioner rule; and |
|
|
(2) may, if submitted by a school district, designate |
|
|
one or more campuses rather than the entire district to participate |
|
|
in the program. |
|
|
(e) From among the school districts and institutions of |
|
|
higher education that apply as required under this section, the |
|
|
commissioner may select not more than 10 participants for the |
|
|
program. The commissioner shall select those applicant school |
|
|
districts and institutions of higher education that present the |
|
|
plans that are most likely to be effective in producing the next |
|
|
generation of higher performing public schools and institutions of |
|
|
higher education that provide education and training in an |
|
|
innovative form and manner to prepare students for careers for |
|
|
which there is demand in this state. |
|
|
(f) The commissioner shall convene program leaders |
|
|
periodically to discuss methods to transform learning |
|
|
opportunities for all students, build cross-institution support |
|
|
systems and training, and share best practices tools and processes. |
|
|
(g) A school district or institution of higher education |
|
|
participating in the program or the commissioner may, for purposes |
|
|
of this section, accept gifts, grants, or donations from any |
|
|
source, including a private or governmental entity. |
|
|
(h) To cover the costs of administering the program, the |
|
|
commissioner may charge a fee to a school district or institution of |
|
|
higher education participating in the program. |
|
|
(i) In consultation with interested school districts, |
|
|
institutions of higher education, and other appropriate interested |
|
|
persons, the commissioner shall adopt rules as necessary for |
|
|
purposes of this section. |
|
|
(j) Not later than December 1, 2014, and not later than |
|
|
December 1, 2016, with the assistance of school districts and |
|
|
institutions of higher education participating in the program, the |
|
|
commissioner shall submit to the governor and the legislature |
|
|
reports concerning the performance and progress of the program |
|
|
participants. The report submitted not later than December 1, |
|
|
2014, must include any recommendation by the commissioner |
|
|
concerning legislative authorization necessary for the |
|
|
commissioner to waive a prohibition, requirement, or restriction |
|
|
that applies to a program participant and other school district or |
|
|
institution of higher education interested in beginning a similar |
|
|
program. To prepare for implementation of a commissioner waiver, |
|
|
the commissioner shall seek any necessary federal waiver. This |
|
|
subsection expires January 1, 2020. |
|
|
SECTION 2. 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. |