H.B. No. 3485
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to career and technical education provided by school
  districts and certain postsecondary institutions.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 28, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 28.0022 to read as follows:
         Sec. 28.0022.  REVIEW PANEL FOR CAREER AND TECHNICAL
  EDUCATION CURRICULUM. (a) Not later than November 1, 2007, the
  agency shall establish a panel under this section to:
               (1)  review and recommend revisions to the career and
  technical education curriculum under Section 28.002(a)(2)(F); and
               (2)  review and recommend revisions for the program in
  which high schools and articulated postsecondary institutions
  allow high school students to take advanced technical credit
  courses.
         (b)  The panel established under this section shall consist
  of:
               (1)  individuals who have expertise developing or
  administering career and technical education programs; and
               (2)  employers who hire students who have obtained
  certification or credentials under a career and technical education
  program.
         (c)  A member of the panel serves on a voluntary basis
  without compensation.
         (d)  Not later than November 1, 2008, the panel shall:
               (1)  complete the review as required by this section
  of:
                     (A)  the career and technical education
  curriculum; and
                     (B)  the program under which high schools and
  articulated postsecondary institutions allow high school students
  to take advanced technical credit courses; and
               (2)  make recommendations to the State Board of
  Education as necessary to:
                     (A)  increase the academic rigor of the career and
  technical education curriculum under Section 28.002(a)(2)(F); and
                     (B)  improve and increase participation in the
  program under which high schools and articulated postsecondary
  institutions allow high school students to take advanced technical
  credit courses.
         (e)  Not later than September 1, 2009, the State Board of
  Education by rule shall revise the essential knowledge and skills
  of the career and technical education curriculum as provided by
  Section 28.002(c) based on the recommendations of the panel under
  Subsection (d). The State Board of Education shall require school
  districts to provide instruction in the career and technical
  education curriculum, as revised under this subsection, beginning
  with the 2010-2011 school year.
         (f)  This section expires September 1, 2014.
         SECTION 2.  Section 28.009, Education Code, is amended by
  amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (c) and (d) to read
  as follows:
         (a)  Each school district shall implement a program under
  which students may earn the equivalent of at least 12 semester
  credit hours of college credit in high school. On request, a public
  institution of higher education in this state shall assist a school
  district in developing and implementing the program. The college
  credit may be earned through:
               (1)  international baccalaureate, advanced placement,
  or dual credit courses;
               (2)  articulated postsecondary courses provided for
  local credit or articulated postsecondary advanced technical
  credit courses provided for state credit; or
               (3)  any combination of the courses described by
  Subdivisions (1) and (2).
         (c)  Each school district shall annually report to the
  agency:
               (1)  the number of district students, including career
  and technical students, who have participated in the program and
  earned college credit; and
               (2)  the cumulative number of courses in which
  participating district students have enrolled and college credit
  hours the students have earned.
         (d)  In this section:
               (1)  "Career and technical student" means:
                     (A)  a secondary education student who has entered
  the first course in a sequence of two or more technical courses for
  three or more credits in a career and technical education program;
  or
                     (B)  a student who:
                           (i)  is enrolled in an academic or workforce
  course that is part of a sequence of courses leading to an
  industry-recognized credential, certificate, or degree; and
                           (ii)  has declared that sequence of courses
  as the student's major course of study.
               (2)  "Sequence of courses" means career and technical
  education courses approved by the State Board of Education,
  innovative courses approved by the State Board of Education that
  are provided for local credit, or a tech-prep program of study under
  Section 61.852.
         SECTION 3.  Section 28.0212, Education Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (g) to read as follows:
         (g)  Each school district is encouraged to establish for each
  student entering grade nine a personal graduation plan that
  identifies a course of study that:
               (1)  promotes:
                     (A)  college and workforce readiness; and
                     (B)  career placement and advancement; and
               (2)  facilitates the student's transition from
  secondary to postsecondary education.
         SECTION 4.  Section 28.025, Education Code, is amended by
  amending Subsection (b-1) and adding Subsection (b-2) 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 four courses in each subject of the
  foundation curriculum under Section 28.002(a)(1); and
               (2)  one or more courses offered in the required
  curriculum for the recommended and advanced high school programs
  include a research writing component.
         (b-2)  In adopting rules under Subsection (b-1), the State
  Board of Education shall allow a student to comply with the
  curriculum requirements for a mathematics course under Subsection
  (b-1)(1) taken after the successful completion of an Algebra II
  course or science course under Subsection (b-1)(1) taken after the
  successful completion of a physics course by successfully
  completing an advanced career and technical course designated by
  the State Board of Education as containing substantively similar
  and rigorous academic content. A student may use the option
  provided by this subsection for not more than two courses.
         SECTION 5.  Section 42.154, Education Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows:
         (a-1)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this section,
  the commissioner shall develop and implement a pilot program under
  which a school district is entitled to additional funding for each
  student receiving career and technology instruction in grade eight.
  The commissioner shall select not more than five school districts
  for participation in the pilot program. In selecting school
  districts for participation, the commissioner shall consider
  school districts that can provide services under the program at the
  least cost. For each full-time equivalent student in grade eight in
  average daily attendance in an approved career and technology
  education program, a school district participating in the program
  under this subsection is entitled to an annual allotment equal to
  the adjusted basic allotment multiplied by a weight of 1.35. Funds
  allocated under this subsection, other than an indirect cost
  allotment established under State Board of Education rule, must be
  used in providing career and technology programs in grade eight
  under Sections 29.182, 29.183, and 29.184. A school district is
  entitled to an allotment under this subsection for each school year
  through the completion of the 2011-2012 school year. Not later than
  January 1, 2013, the agency shall prepare and deliver to each member
  of the legislature a report describing the effectiveness of the
  pilot program described by this subsection. This subsection
  expires February 1, 2013.
         SECTION 6.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all of 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, 2007.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 3485 was passed by the House on May 9,
  2007, by the following vote:  Yeas 138, Nays 1, 1 present, not
  voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 3485 was passed by the Senate on May
  22, 2007, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 0.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
  APPROVED:  _____________________
                     Date          
   
            _____________________
                   Governor