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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 and funding in support of certain |
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curriculum authorized 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 foundation [recommended
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and advanced] high school program [programs] under Section 28.025 |
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[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 28.014(b), Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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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 the foundation [recommended or advanced] high |
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school program under Section 28.025. |
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SECTION 3. Sections 28.0212(a), (b), (c), and (e), |
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Education Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(a) A principal shall designate a guidance counselor, |
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teacher, or other appropriate individual to develop and administer |
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a personal graduation plan for each student enrolled in a junior |
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high, middle, or high school [who:
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[(1)
does not perform satisfactorily on an assessment
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instrument administered under Subchapter B, Chapter 39; or
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[(2)
is not likely to receive a high school diploma
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before the fifth school year following the student's enrollment in
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grade level nine, as determined by the district]. |
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(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, a |
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[A] personal graduation plan for a student enrolled in a junior |
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high, middle, or high school who does not perform satisfactorily on |
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an assessment instrument administered under Subchapter B, Chapter |
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39, or who is not likely to receive a high school diploma before the |
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fifth school year following the student's enrollment in grade level |
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nine, as determined by the school district, must at a minimum: |
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(1) identify educational goals for the student; |
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(2) include diagnostic information, appropriate |
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monitoring and intervention, and other evaluation strategies; |
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(3) include an intensive instruction program |
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described by Section 28.0213; |
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(4) address participation of the student's parent or |
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guardian, including consideration of the parent's or guardian's |
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educational expectations for the student; and |
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(5) provide innovative methods to promote the |
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student's advancement, including flexible scheduling, alternative |
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learning environments, on-line instruction, and other |
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interventions that are proven to accelerate the learning process |
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and have been scientifically validated to improve learning and |
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cognitive ability. |
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(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section |
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[Subsection (b)], a student's individualized education program |
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developed under Section 29.005 may be used as the student's |
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personal graduation plan under this section. |
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(e) A personal graduation plan [Each school district is
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encouraged to establish] for each student entering grade nine must |
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identify [a personal graduation plan that identifies] a course of |
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study that: |
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(1) promotes: |
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(A) college and workforce readiness; and |
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(B) career placement and advancement; and |
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(2) facilitates the student's transition from |
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secondary to postsecondary education. |
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SECTION 4. Section 28.025, Education Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsections (a), (b), (b-1), (b-4), (b-5), (b-7), (b-9), |
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(b-10), (b-11), and (e) and adding Subsections (c-1), (c-2), (c-3), |
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(h), and (h-1) 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 foundation [minimum, recommended,
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and advanced] high school program [programs] that are consistent |
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with the required curriculum under Section 28.002. The [Subject to
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Subsection (b-1), the] State Board of Education shall designate the |
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specific courses in the foundation curriculum under Section |
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28.002(a)(1) required under [for a student participating in] the |
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foundation [minimum, recommended, or advanced] high school |
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program. Except as otherwise provided by this section [Subsection
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(b-1)], the State Board of Education may not designate a specific |
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course or a specific number of credits in the enrichment curriculum |
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as requirements for the foundation high school [recommended] |
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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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the foundation [recommended or advanced] high school program |
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[unless the student, the student's parent or other person standing
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in parental relation to the student, and a school counselor or
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school administrator agree in writing signed by each party that the
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student should be permitted to take courses under the minimum high
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school program and the student:
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[(1) is at least 16 years of age;
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[(2)
has completed two credits required for graduation
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in each subject of the foundation curriculum under Section
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28.002(a)(1); or
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[(3)
has failed to be promoted to the tenth grade one
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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 foundation [recommended and
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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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(1) [(A)] four credits in English language arts [each
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subject of the foundation curriculum] under Section |
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28.002(a)(1)(A); |
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(2) three credits in mathematics under Section |
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28.002(a)(1)(B); |
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(3) two credits in science under Section |
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28.002(a)(1)(C); |
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(4) three credits in social studies under Section |
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28.002(a)(1)(D) [28.002(a)(1), including at least one-half credit
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in government and at least one-half credit in economics to meet the
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social studies requirement]; |
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(5) 11-1/2 [(B)
for the recommended high school
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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 program,
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six] elective credits [and, for the advanced high school program,
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five elective credits]; |
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(6) one-half credit in speech; |
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(7) [(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 writing component; and
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[(3)
the curriculum requirements for the minimum,
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recommended, and advanced high school 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) or, at the option of the student, one credit in |
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career and technology education under Section 28.002(a)(2)(E); and |
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(8) [(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-4) A school district may offer the curriculum described |
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in Subsections (b-1)(1) through (4) [Subsection (b-1)(1)(A)] in an |
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applied manner. Courses delivered in an applied manner must cover |
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the essential knowledge and skills, and the student shall be |
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administered the applicable end-of-course assessment instrument as |
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provided by Sections 39.023(c) and 39.025. |
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(b-5) A school district may offer a mathematics or science |
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course to be taken by a student after completion of Algebra II and |
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physics [to comply with the recommended program requirements in
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Subsection (b-1)(1)(A)]. A course approved under this subsection |
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must be endorsed by an institution of higher education as a course |
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for which the institution would award course credit or as a |
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prerequisite for a course for which the institution would award |
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course credit. |
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(b-7) The State Board of Education, in coordination with the |
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Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, shall adopt rules to |
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ensure that a student may comply with the curriculum requirements |
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under the foundation [minimum, recommended, or advanced] high |
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school program for each subject of the foundation curriculum under |
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Section 28.002(a)(1) and for languages other than English to earn |
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an endorsement under Subsection (c-1)(2)(D), (c-1)(3)(D), or |
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(c-1)(4)(B)(iv) [under Section 28.002(a)(2)(A)] by successfully |
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completing appropriate courses in the core curriculum of an |
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institution of higher education under Section 61.822. |
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(b-9) The agency shall establish a pilot program allowing a |
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student attending school in a county with a population of more than |
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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)(7) [(b-1)(3)(A)] by |
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participating in a fine arts program not provided by the school |
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district in which the student is enrolled. The fine arts program |
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may be provided on or off a school campus and outside the regular |
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school day. [Not later than December 1, 2010, the agency shall
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provide to the legislature a report regarding the pilot program,
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including the feasibility of expanding the pilot program
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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)(8) [(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-11) In adopting rules under Subsection (b-1), the State |
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Board of Education shall allow a student who is unable to |
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participate in physical activity due to disability or illness to |
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substitute one credit in English language arts, mathematics, |
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science, or social studies or one academic elective credit for the |
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physical education credit required under Subsection (b-1)(8) |
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[(b-1)(3)(B)]. A credit allowed to be substituted under this |
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subsection may not also be used by the student to satisfy a |
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graduation requirement other than completion of the physical |
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education credit. The rules must provide that the determination |
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regarding a student's ability to participate in physical activity |
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will be made by: |
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(1) if the student receives special education services |
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|
under Subchapter A, Chapter 29, the student's admission, review, |
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and dismissal committee; |
|
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(2) if the student does not receive special education |
|
|
services under Subchapter A, Chapter 29, but is covered by Section |
|
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504, Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. Section 794), the |
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committee established for the student under that Act; or |
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(3) if each of the committees described by |
|
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Subdivisions (1) and (2) is inapplicable, a committee established |
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by the school district of persons with appropriate knowledge |
|
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regarding the student. |
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(c-1) A student who successfully completes the curriculum |
|
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requirements for the foundation high school program under this |
|
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section may earn any of the following endorsements on the student's |
|
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diploma and transcript as follows: |
|
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(1) a business and industry endorsement by earning one |
|
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additional credit in science; |
|
|
(2) an academic achievement in arts and humanities |
|
|
endorsement by earning: |
|
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(A) one additional credit in science; |
|
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(B) one additional credit in social studies; |
|
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(C) one additional credit in either fine arts or |
|
|
career and technology education, regardless of whether the |
|
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student's credit for the foundation high school program is in fine |
|
|
arts or career and technology education; and |
|
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(D) two credits in the same language other than |
|
|
English; |
|
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(3) an academic achievement in science, technology, |
|
|
engineering, and mathematics (STEM) endorsement by earning: |
|
|
(A) one additional credit in mathematics; |
|
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(B) two additional credits in science; |
|
|
(C) one additional credit in either fine arts or |
|
|
career and technology education, regardless of whether the |
|
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student's credit for the foundation high school program is in fine |
|
|
arts or career and technology education; and |
|
|
(D) two credits in the same language other than |
|
|
English; and |
|
|
(4) a distinguished achievement endorsement by: |
|
|
(A) successfully completing English III and |
|
|
Algebra II courses and performing at the distinguished level |
|
|
standard of performance as determined by the commissioner under |
|
|
Section 39.0241(a-3) on the end-of-course assessment instruments |
|
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under Section 39.023(c) for each of those courses; and |
|
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(B) earning: |
|
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(i) one additional credit in mathematics; |
|
|
(ii) two additional credits in science; |
|
|
(iii) one additional credit in social |
|
|
studies; and |
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(iv) three credits in the same language |
|
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other than English. |
|
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(c-2) The State Board of Education shall designate the |
|
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specific courses required for an endorsement under Subsection (c-1) |
|
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for courses included in the foundation curriculum under Section |
|
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28.002(a)(1). |
|
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(c-3) A student's diploma must clearly indicate any |
|
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endorsement under Subsection (c-1) that a student has earned. |
|
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(e) Each school district shall report the academic |
|
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achievement record of students who have completed the foundation [a
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minimum, recommended, or advanced] high school program on |
|
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transcript forms adopted by the State Board of Education. The |
|
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transcript forms adopted by the board must be designed to clearly |
|
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[differentiate between each of the high school programs and] |
|
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identify whether a student received a diploma or a certificate of |
|
|
coursework completion and to clearly indicate an endorsement under |
|
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Subsection (c-1) that a student has earned. |
|
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(h) The commissioner by rule shall adopt a transition plan |
|
|
to implement and administer the amendments made by __.B. No. __, |
|
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83rd Legislature, Regular Session, 2013, replacing the minimum, |
|
|
recommended, and advanced high school programs with the foundation |
|
|
high school program beginning with the 2013-2014 school year. |
|
|
Under the transition plan, a student who entered the ninth grade |
|
|
before the 2013-2014 school year must be permitted to complete the |
|
|
curriculum requirements required for high school graduation under: |
|
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(1) the foundation high school program, if the student |
|
|
makes the choice during the 2013-2014 school year to take courses |
|
|
under that program; |
|
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(2) the minimum high school program, as that program |
|
|
existed before the adoption of __.B. No. __, 83rd Legislature, |
|
|
Regular Session, 2013, if the student was participating in that |
|
|
program before the 2013-2014 school year; |
|
|
(3) the recommended high school program, as that |
|
|
program existed before the adoption of __.B. No. __, 83rd |
|
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Legislature, Regular Session, 2013, if the student was |
|
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participating in that program before the 2013-2014 school year; or |
|
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(4) the advanced high school program, as that program |
|
|
existed before the adoption of __.B. No. __, 83rd Legislature, |
|
|
Regular Session, 2013, if the student was participating in that |
|
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program before the 2013-2014 school year. |
|
|
(h-1) This subsection and Subsection (h) expire September |
|
|
1, 2017. |
|
|
SECTION 5. 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 the foundation |
|
|
[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 through the program. |
|
|
SECTION 6. 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 foundation [recommended] high school program |
|
|
[imposed] under Section 28.025 [28.025(b-1)(1)(A)] through |
|
|
substitution of the applied STEM course for a specific mathematics |
|
|
or science course otherwise required under the foundation |
|
|
[recommended] high school program [and completed during the
|
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|
student's fourth year of mathematics or science course work]. [The
|
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|
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
|
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|
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 7. 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 the recommended high school 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 |
|
|
administrative expenses; |
|
|
(7) include matching funds from any of the |
|
|
participating entities; and |
|
|
(8) include any other requirements as determined by |
|
|
the council. |
|
|
SECTION 8. 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 foundation |
|
|
[minimum, recommended, or 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 9. 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 the foundation [recommended or
|
|
|
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 10. 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 the recommended or
|
|
|
advanced high school program adopted under Section 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; |
|
|
(3) [(4)] financial aid eligibility; |
|
|
(4) [(5)] instruction on how to apply for federal |
|
|
financial aid; |
|
|
(5) [(6)] the center for financial aid information |
|
|
established under Section 61.0776; |
|
|
(6) [(7)] the automatic admission of certain students |
|
|
to general academic teaching institutions as provided by Section |
|
|
51.803; |
|
|
(7) [(8)] the eligibility and academic performance |
|
|
requirements for the TEXAS Grant as provided by Subchapter M, |
|
|
Chapter 56; and |
|
|
(8) [(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 11. Section 39.0241, Education Code, is amended by |
|
|
amending Subsection (a-2) and adding Subsection (a-3) to read as |
|
|
follows: |
|
|
(a-2) For the purpose of establishing performance across |
|
|
grade levels, the commissioner shall establish: |
|
|
(1) the performance standards for the Algebra II and |
|
|
English III end-of-course assessment instruments, as provided |
|
|
under Section 39.024(b) and under Subsections [Subsection] (a) and |
|
|
(a-3); |
|
|
(2) the performance standards for the Algebra I and |
|
|
English II end-of-course assessment instruments, as determined |
|
|
based on studies under Section 39.0242 that correlate student |
|
|
performance on the Algebra I and English II end-of-course |
|
|
assessment instruments with student performance on the Algebra II |
|
|
and English III assessment instruments; |
|
|
(3) the performance standards for the English I |
|
|
end-of-course assessment instrument, as determined based on |
|
|
studies under Section 39.0242 that correlate student performance on |
|
|
the English I end-of-course assessment instrument with student |
|
|
performance on the English II assessment instrument; |
|
|
(4) the performance standards for the grade eight |
|
|
assessment instruments, as determined based on studies under |
|
|
Section 39.0242 that correlate student performance on the grade |
|
|
eight assessment instruments with student performance on the |
|
|
Algebra I and English I end-of-course assessment instruments in the |
|
|
same content area; and |
|
|
(5) the performance standards on the assessment |
|
|
instruments in each of grades three through seven, as determined |
|
|
based on studies under Section 39.0242 that correlate student |
|
|
performance in the same content area on the assessment instrument |
|
|
for each grade with student performance on the assessment |
|
|
instrument in the succeeding grade. |
|
|
(a-3) The commissioner shall determine the level of |
|
|
performance considered to be distinguished performance on the |
|
|
assessment instruments. The distinguished level of performance |
|
|
must be a level of performance that is higher than satisfactory |
|
|
performance as determined under Subsection (a). |
|
|
SECTION 12. Section 39.0242(e), Education Code, is amended |
|
|
to read as follows: |
|
|
(e) Based on the data collected and studies performed |
|
|
periodically under Subsection (d), the commissioner shall increase |
|
|
the rigor of the performance standard established under Section |
|
|
39.0241(a) or (a-3) as the commissioner determines necessary. |
|
|
SECTION 13. Section 39.025(a), Education Code, is amended |
|
|
to read as follows: |
|
|
(a) The commissioner shall adopt rules requiring a student |
|
|
[participating] in the foundation [recommended or 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 14. Sections 39.053(c), (f), and (i), Education |
|
|
Code, are amended to read as follows: |
|
|
(c) Indicators of student achievement adopted under this |
|
|
section must include: |
|
|
(1) the results of assessment instruments required |
|
|
under Sections 39.023(a), (c), and (l), including the results of |
|
|
assessment instruments required for graduation retaken by a |
|
|
student, aggregated across grade levels by subject area, including: |
|
|
(A) for the performance standard determined by |
|
|
the commissioner under Section 39.0241(a): |
|
|
(i) the percentage of students who |
|
|
performed satisfactorily on the assessment instruments, aggregated |
|
|
across grade levels by subject area; and |
|
|
(ii) for students who did not perform |
|
|
satisfactorily, the percentage of students who met the standard for |
|
|
annual improvement, as determined by the agency under Section |
|
|
39.034, on the assessment instruments, aggregated across grade |
|
|
levels by subject area; [and] |
|
|
(B) for the college readiness performance |
|
|
standard as determined under Section 39.0241: |
|
|
(i) the percentage of students who |
|
|
performed satisfactorily on the assessment instruments, aggregated |
|
|
across grade levels by subject area; and |
|
|
(ii) for students who did not perform |
|
|
satisfactorily, the percentage of students who met the standard for |
|
|
annual improvement, as determined by the agency under Section |
|
|
39.034, on the assessment instruments, aggregated across grade |
|
|
levels by subject area; and |
|
|
(C) for the performance standard determined by |
|
|
the commissioner under Section 39.0241(a-3): |
|
|
(i) the percentage of students who |
|
|
performed satisfactorily on the assessment instruments, aggregated |
|
|
across grade levels by subject area; and |
|
|
(ii) for students who did not perform |
|
|
satisfactorily, the percentage of students who met the standard for |
|
|
annual improvement, as determined by the agency under Section |
|
|
39.034, on the assessment instruments, aggregated across grade |
|
|
levels by subject area; |
|
|
(2) dropout rates, including dropout rates and |
|
|
district completion rates for grade levels 9 through 12, computed |
|
|
in accordance with standards and definitions adopted by the |
|
|
National Center for Education Statistics of the United States |
|
|
Department of Education; and |
|
|
(3) high school graduation rates, computed in |
|
|
accordance with standards and definitions adopted in compliance |
|
|
with the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (20 U.S.C. Section 6301 et |
|
|
seq.). |
|
|
(f) Annually, the commissioner shall define the state |
|
|
standard for the current school year for each student achievement |
|
|
indicator described by Subsection (c) and shall project the state |
|
|
standards for each indicator for the following two school |
|
|
years. The commissioner shall periodically raise the state |
|
|
standards for the student achievement indicator described by |
|
|
Subsection (c)(1)(B)(i) for accreditation as necessary to reach the |
|
|
goals of achieving, by not later than the 2019-2020 school year: |
|
|
(1) student performance in this state, disaggregated |
|
|
by race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status, that ranks nationally |
|
|
in the top 10 states in terms of college readiness; and |
|
|
(2) student performance[, including the percentage of
|
|
|
students graduating under the recommended or advanced high school
|
|
|
program,] with no significant achievement gaps by race, ethnicity, |
|
|
and socioeconomic status. |
|
|
(i) The commissioner by rule shall adopt accountability |
|
|
measures to be used in assessing the progress of students who have |
|
|
failed to perform satisfactorily as determined by the commissioner |
|
|
under any performance standard under Section 39.0241 [39.0241(a) or
|
|
|
under the college readiness standard as determined under Section
|
|
|
39.0241] in the preceding school year on an assessment instrument |
|
|
required under Section 39.023(a), (c), or (l). |
|
|
SECTION 15. 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 advanced |
|
|
course as determined by the commissioner [as distinguishing between
|
|
|
students participating in the recommended high school program from
|
|
|
students participating in the minimum high school program]; |
|
|
(11) [(12)] when resource allocation practices as |
|
|
evaluated under Section 39.0821 indicate a potential for |
|
|
significant improvement in resource allocation; or |
|
|
(12) [(13)] as the commissioner otherwise determines |
|
|
necessary. |
|
|
SECTION 16. Section 39.301(c), Education Code, is amended |
|
|
to read as follows: |
|
|
(c) Indicators for reporting purposes must include: |
|
|
(1) the percentage of graduating students who meet the |
|
|
course requirements established under Section 28.025(c-1) for |
|
|
endorsements under that section [by State Board of Education rule
|
|
|
for the minimum high school program, the recommended high school
|
|
|
program, and the advanced high school program]; |
|
|
(2) the results of the SAT, ACT, articulated |
|
|
postsecondary degree programs described by Section 61.852, and |
|
|
certified workforce training programs described by Chapter 311, |
|
|
Labor Code; |
|
|
(3) for students who have failed to perform |
|
|
satisfactorily, under each performance standard under Section |
|
|
39.0241, on an assessment instrument required under Section |
|
|
39.023(a) or (c), the performance of those students on subsequent |
|
|
assessment instruments required under those sections, aggregated |
|
|
by grade level and subject area; |
|
|
(4) for each campus, the number of students, |
|
|
disaggregated by major student subpopulations, that [agree under
|
|
|
Section 28.025(b) to] take courses under the foundation [minimum] |
|
|
high school program and take additional courses to earn an |
|
|
endorsement under Section 28.025(c-1), disaggregated by type of |
|
|
endorsement; |
|
|
(5) the percentage of students, aggregated by grade |
|
|
level, provided accelerated instruction under Section 28.0211(c), |
|
|
the results of assessment instruments administered under that |
|
|
section, the percentage of students promoted through the grade |
|
|
placement committee process under Section 28.0211, the subject of |
|
|
the assessment instrument on which each student failed to perform |
|
|
satisfactorily under each performance standard under Section |
|
|
39.0241, and the performance of those students in the school year |
|
|
following that promotion on the assessment instruments required |
|
|
under Section 39.023; |
|
|
(6) the percentage of students of limited English |
|
|
proficiency exempted from the administration of an assessment |
|
|
instrument under Sections 39.027(a)(1) and (2); |
|
|
(7) the percentage of students in a special education |
|
|
program under Subchapter A, Chapter 29, assessed through assessment |
|
|
instruments developed or adopted under Section 39.023(b); |
|
|
(8) the percentage of students who satisfy the college |
|
|
readiness measure; |
|
|
(9) the measure of progress toward dual language |
|
|
proficiency under Section 39.034(b), for students of limited |
|
|
English proficiency, as defined by Section 29.052; |
|
|
(10) the percentage of students who are not |
|
|
educationally disadvantaged; |
|
|
(11) the percentage of students who enroll and begin |
|
|
instruction at an institution of higher education in the school |
|
|
year following high school graduation; and |
|
|
(12) the percentage of students who successfully |
|
|
complete the first year of instruction at an institution of higher |
|
|
education without needing a developmental education course. |
|
|
SECTION 17. Section 39.303(b), Education Code, is amended |
|
|
to read as follows: |
|
|
(b) For a student who failed to perform satisfactorily as |
|
|
determined under any [either] performance standard under Section |
|
|
39.0241 on an assessment instrument administered under Section |
|
|
39.023(a), (c), or (l), the school district shall include in the |
|
|
notice specific information relating to access to educational |
|
|
resources at the appropriate assessment instrument content level, |
|
|
including assessment instrument questions and answers released |
|
|
under Section 39.023(e). |
|
|
SECTION 18. Section 42.154(a), Education Code, is amended |
|
|
to read as follows: |
|
|
(a) For each full-time equivalent student in average daily |
|
|
attendance in an approved career and technology education program |
|
|
in grades eight [nine] through 12 or in career and technology |
|
|
education programs for students with disabilities in grades seven |
|
|
through 12, a district is entitled to: |
|
|
(1) an annual allotment equal to the adjusted basic |
|
|
allotment multiplied by a weight of 1.35; and |
|
|
(2) $50, if the student is in grades nine through 12 |
|
|
and enrolled in: |
|
|
(A) two or more advanced career and technology |
|
|
education classes for a total of three or more credits; or |
|
|
(B) an advanced course as part of a tech-prep |
|
|
program under Subchapter T, Chapter 61. |
|
|
SECTION 19. Section 51.3062(q-1), Education Code, is |
|
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
|
(q-1) A student who has completed the foundation [a
|
|
|
recommended or 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 the foundation |
|
|
[recommended or 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 the foundation [recommended or 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 the recommended or
|
|
|
advanced curriculum or of the curriculum equivalent in content and
|
|
|
rigor, as applicable, that was available to the student]. |
|
|
SECTION 21. Section 51.804, Education Code, is amended to |
|
|
read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 51.804. ADDITIONAL AUTOMATIC ADMISSIONS: SELECTED |
|
|
INSTITUTIONS. For each academic year, the governing board of each |
|
|
general academic teaching institution shall determine whether to |
|
|
adopt an admissions policy under which an applicant to the |
|
|
institution as a first-time freshman student, other than an |
|
|
applicant eligible for admission under Section 51.803, shall be |
|
|
admitted to the institution if the applicant: |
|
|
(1) graduated from a public or private high school in |
|
|
this state accredited by a generally recognized accrediting |
|
|
organization with a grade point average in the top 25 percent of the |
|
|
applicant's high school graduating class; and |
|
|
(2) satisfies the requirements of: |
|
|
(A) Section 51.803(a)(2)(A) or (B) [51.803(b),
|
|
|
as applicable to the student, or Section 51.803 (a)(2)(B)]; and |
|
|
(B) Sections 51.803(c)(2) and 51.803(d). |
|
|
SECTION 22. Section 51.805(a), Education Code, is amended |
|
|
to read as follows: |
|
|
(a) A graduating student who does not qualify for admission |
|
|
under Section 51.803 or 51.804 may apply to any general academic |
|
|
teaching institution if the student satisfies the requirements of: |
|
|
(1) Section 51.803(a)(2)(A) or (B) [51.803(b), as
|
|
|
applicable to the student, or Section 51.803(a)(2)(B)]; and |
|
|
(2) Sections 51.803(c)(2) and 51.803(d). |
|
|
SECTION 23. 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 the |
|
|
foundation [recommended or advanced] high school program. |
|
|
SECTION 24. Subchapter A, Chapter 56, Education Code, is |
|
|
amended by adding Section 56.009 to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 56.009. ELIGIBILITY BASED ON GRADUATION UNDER CERTAIN |
|
|
HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAMS. To the extent that a person's eligibility to |
|
|
participate in any program under this chapter, including |
|
|
Subchapters K, M, Q, and R, is contingent on the person graduating |
|
|
under the recommended or advanced high school program, as those |
|
|
programs existed before the adoption of __.B. No. _____, 83rd |
|
|
Legislature, Regular Session, 2013, the Texas Higher Education |
|
|
Coordinating Board and the commissioner of education shall jointly |
|
|
adopt rules to modify, clarify, or otherwise establish for affected |
|
|
programs appropriate eligibility requirements regarding high |
|
|
school curriculum completion. |
|
|
SECTION 25. 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 the foundation |
|
|
[recommended] high school 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 designated by the |
|
|
coordinating board by rule in consultation with the State Board of |
|
|
Education, [permitted by Section 28.025(b-3),] or at least one |
|
|
advanced career and technical course, as designated by the |
|
|
coordinating board by rule in consultation with the State Board of |
|
|
Education [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 26. Section 61.0517(a), Education Code, is amended |
|
|
to read as follows: |
|
|
(a) In this section, "applied STEM course" means an applied |
|
|
science, technology, engineering, or mathematics course offered as |
|
|
part of a school district's career and technology education |
|
|
curriculum and approved, as provided by Section 28.027, by the |
|
|
State Board of Education for purposes of satisfying the mathematics |
|
|
and science curriculum requirements for the foundation |
|
|
[recommended] high school program [imposed] under Section 28.025 |
|
|
[28.025(b-1)(1)(A)]. |
|
|
SECTION 27. 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 the foundation |
|
|
[recommended or 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 28. 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 foundation |
|
|
[recommended] high school program adopted by the State Board of |
|
|
Education under Section 28.025 [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 29. 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 foundation [recommended] high school program adopted by the |
|
|
State Board of Education under Section 28.025 [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 30. 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 |
|
|
the foundation [recommended or advanced] high school program as |
|
|
determined under Section 28.025. |
|
|
SECTION 31. 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 |
|
|
the foundation [recommended or advanced] high school program as |
|
|
determined under Section 28.025. |
|
|
SECTION 32. Section 78.10(b), Education Code, is amended to |
|
|
read as follows: |
|
|
(b) The Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science is a |
|
|
division of The University of Texas at Brownsville and is under the |
|
|
management and control of the board. The academy serves the |
|
|
following purposes: |
|
|
(1) to provide academically gifted and highly |
|
|
motivated junior and senior high school students with a challenging |
|
|
university-level curriculum that: |
|
|
(A) allows students to complete high school |
|
|
graduation requirements[, including requirements adopted] under |
|
|
Section 28.025 for the foundation [advanced] high school program, |
|
|
while attending for academic credit a public institution of higher |
|
|
education; |
|
|
(B) fosters students' knowledge of real-world |
|
|
mathematics and science issues and applications and teaches |
|
|
students to apply critical thinking and problem-solving skills to |
|
|
those issues and problems; |
|
|
(C) includes the study of English, foreign |
|
|
languages, social studies, mathematics, science, and technology; |
|
|
and |
|
|
(D) offers students learning opportunities |
|
|
related to mathematics and science through in-depth research and |
|
|
field-based studies; |
|
|
(2) to provide students with an awareness of |
|
|
mathematics and science careers and professional development |
|
|
opportunities through seminars, workshops, collaboration with |
|
|
postsecondary and university students including opportunities for |
|
|
summer studies, internships in foreign countries, and similar |
|
|
methods; and |
|
|
(3) to provide students with social development |
|
|
activities that enrich the academic curriculum and student life, |
|
|
including, as determined appropriate by the academy, University |
|
|
Interscholastic League activities and other extracurricular |
|
|
activities. |
|
|
SECTION 33. Section 87.505(b), Education Code, is amended |
|
|
to read as follows: |
|
|
(b) The Texas Academy of International Studies is a division |
|
|
of Texas A&M International University and is under the management |
|
|
and control of the board. The academy serves the following |
|
|
purposes: |
|
|
(1) to provide academically gifted and highly |
|
|
motivated junior and senior high school students with a challenging |
|
|
university-level curriculum that: |
|
|
(A) allows students to complete high school |
|
|
graduation requirements[, including requirements adopted] under |
|
|
Section 28.025 for the foundation [advanced] high school program, |
|
|
while attending for academic credit a public institution of higher |
|
|
education; |
|
|
(B) fosters students' knowledge of real-world |
|
|
international issues and problems and teaches students to apply |
|
|
critical thinking and problem-solving skills to those issues and |
|
|
problems; |
|
|
(C) includes the study of English, foreign |
|
|
languages, social studies, anthropology, and sociology; |
|
|
(D) is presented through an interdisciplinary |
|
|
approach that introduces and develops issues, especially issues |
|
|
related to international concerns, throughout the curriculum; and |
|
|
(E) offers students learning opportunities |
|
|
related to international issues through in-depth research and |
|
|
field-based studies; |
|
|
(2) to provide students with an awareness of |
|
|
international career and professional development opportunities |
|
|
through seminars, workshops, collaboration with postsecondary |
|
|
students from other countries, summer academic international |
|
|
studies internships in foreign countries, and similar methods; and |
|
|
(3) to provide students with social development |
|
|
activities that enrich the academic curriculum and student life, |
|
|
including, as determined appropriate by the academy, University |
|
|
Interscholastic League activities and other extracurricular |
|
|
activities generally offered by public high schools. |
|
|
SECTION 34. The following provisions of the Education Code |
|
|
are repealed: |
|
|
(1) Section 28.002(q); |
|
|
(2) Section 28.0212(g); |
|
|
(3) Sections 28.025(b-2), (b-3), (b-6), (b-8), and |
|
|
(g); |
|
|
(4) Sections 39.025(a-2) and (a-3); and |
|
|
(5) Section 51.803(b). |
|
|
SECTION 35. Section 39.025, Education Code, as amended by |
|
|
this Act, applies only to students who have entered or will enter |
|
|
the ninth grade during the 2011-2012 school year or a later school |
|
|
year. |
|
|
SECTION 36. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board |
|
|
shall adopt rules in accordance with Section 56.3041(2)(A)(iv), |
|
|
Education Code, as amended by this Act, as soon as practicable after |
|
|
the date this Act takes effect. For that purpose, the board may |
|
|
adopt the initial rules in the manner provided by law for adoption |
|
|
of emergency rules. |
|
|
SECTION 37. This Act applies beginning with the 2013-2014 |
|
|
school year. |
|
|
SECTION 38. 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. |