H.B. No. 2201
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to increasing the courses offered in the career and
  technology education curriculum.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 28, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 28.00222 to read as follows:
         Sec. 28.00222.  INCREASE IN ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY AND
  CAREER-RELATED COURSES. (a) Not later than September 1, 2014, the
  State Board of Education shall ensure that at least six advanced
  career and technology education or technology applications
  courses, including a course in personal financial literacy that is
  consistent with Section 28.0021, are approved to satisfy a fourth
  credit in mathematics required for high school graduation.
         (b)  Not later than January 1, 2015, the commissioner shall
  review and report to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the
  speaker of the house of representatives, and the presiding officer
  of each standing committee of the legislature with primary
  responsibility over public primary and secondary education
  regarding the progress of increasing the number of courses approved
  for the career and technology education or technology applications
  curriculum. The commissioner shall include in the report a
  detailed description of any new courses, including instructional
  materials and required equipment, if any.
         (c)  This section expires September 1, 2015.
         SECTION 2.
    Section 28.025(b-2), Education Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (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 the third and fourth [a] mathematics
  credits [course] under Subsection (b-1)(1) [taken after the
  successful completion of Algebra I and geometry and either after
  the successful completion of or concurrently with Algebra II] or
  the third and fourth [a] science credits [course] under Subsection
  (b-1)(1) [taken after the successful completion of biology and
  chemistry and either after the successful completion of or
  concurrently with physics] 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 3.  Section 28.027(b), Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (b)  The State Board of Education shall establish a process
  under which an applied STEM course may be reviewed and approved for
  purposes of satisfying the mathematics and science curriculum
  requirements for the recommended high school program imposed under
  Section 28.025(b-1)(1)(A) through substitution of the applied STEM
  course for a specific mathematics or science course otherwise
  required under the recommended high school program [and completed
  during the student's fourth year of mathematics or science course
  work]. The State Board of Education may only approve a course to
  substitute for a mathematics course taken after successful
  completion of Algebra I and geometry [and after successful
  completion of or concurrently with Algebra II]. The State Board of
  Education may only approve a course to substitute for a science
  course taken after successful completion of biology [and chemistry
  and after successful completion of or concurrently with physics].
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 2201 was passed by the House on May 9,
  2013, by the following vote:  Yeas 144, Nays 0, 2 present, not
  voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
  No. 2201 on May 23, 2013, by the following vote:  Yeas 146, Nays 0,
  2 present, not voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 2201 was passed by the Senate, with
  amendments, on May 21, 2013, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays
  0.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate   
  APPROVED: __________________
                  Date       
   
           __________________
                Governor