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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to instruction in and an allotment for technology |
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applications courses in computer programming. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 21, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 21.0490 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 21.0490. COMPUTER SCIENCE PROGRAM PROVIDER. (a) With |
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approval from the commissioner, a school district or |
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open-enrollment charter school may contract with a computer science |
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program provider to provide instruction in a technology |
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applications course in computer programming to students in grades |
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two through eight. |
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(b) An instructor employed through an approved computer |
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science program provider providing instruction to students in a |
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technology applications course in computer programming is not |
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required to hold a teaching certificate. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter C, Chapter 42, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 42.1543 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 42.1543. COMPUTER PROGRAMMING COURSE ALLOTMENT. (a) |
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For each student in average daily attendance in an approved |
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technology applications course in computer programming in grades |
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two through eight, a district is entitled to an annual allotment of |
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$50. |
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(b) Funds allocated under this section must be used to |
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provide technology applications courses in computer programming to |
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students in grades two through eight. |
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SECTION 3. Not later than March 1, 2018, the State Board of |
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Education shall review and update the essential knowledge and |
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skills of the technology applications curriculums in grades two |
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through eight to ensure that the essential knowledge and skills |
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incorporate relevant standards for computer programming. |
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SECTION 4. This Act applies beginning with the 2017-2018 |
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school year. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |