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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to instruction in career and technology education provided |
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by public schools, including instruction in technology |
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applications, cybersecurity, and computer coding, and to |
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consideration of completed practicums and internships in school |
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accountability ratings. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 28.002, Education Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsections (a), (f), and (g-2) and adding Subsection |
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(g-3) to read as follows: |
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(a) Each school district that offers kindergarten through |
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grade 12 shall offer, as a required curriculum: |
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(1) a foundation curriculum that includes: |
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(A) English language arts; |
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(B) mathematics; |
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(C) science; and |
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(D) social studies, consisting of Texas, United |
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States, and world history, government, economics, with emphasis on |
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the free enterprise system and its benefits, and geography; and |
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(2) an enrichment curriculum that includes: |
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(A) to the extent possible, languages other than |
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English; |
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(B) health, with emphasis on the importance of |
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proper nutrition and exercise; |
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(C) physical education; |
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(D) fine arts; |
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(E) career and technology education, including[;
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[(F)] technology applications; |
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(F) [(G)] religious literature, including the |
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Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) and New Testament, and its impact |
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on history and literature; and |
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(G) [(H)] personal financial literacy. |
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(f) A school district may offer courses for local credit in |
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addition to those in the required curriculum. The State Board of |
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Education shall: |
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(1) be flexible in approving a course for credit for |
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high school graduation under this subsection; and |
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(2) approve courses in cybersecurity for credit for |
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high school graduation under this subsection. |
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(g-2) Each school district shall annually report to the |
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agency the names of the courses, programs, institutions of higher |
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education, and internships in which the district's students have |
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enrolled under Subsection (g-1) and the names of the courses and |
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institutions of higher education in which the district's students |
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have enrolled under Subsection (g-3). The agency shall make |
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available information provided under this subsection to other |
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districts. |
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(g-3) A district may also offer a course that is approved by |
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the board of trustees for credit without obtaining State Board of |
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Education approval if the district partners with a public or |
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private institution of higher education that offers an |
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undergraduate degree program in cybersecurity to develop and |
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provide the course. |
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SECTION 2. Sections 28.025(b-12), (b-14), and (c-1), |
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Education Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(b-12) In adopting rules under Subsection (b-1), the State |
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Board of Education shall adopt criteria to allow a student to comply |
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with the curriculum requirements for the two credits in a language |
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other than English required under Subsection (b-1)(5) by |
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substituting two credits in computer programming languages, |
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including computer coding. |
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(b-14) In adopting rules under Subsection (b-1), the State |
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Board of Education shall allow a student who, due to disability, is |
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unable to complete two courses in the same language in a language |
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other than English, as provided under Subsection (b-1)(5), to |
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substitute for those credits two credits in English language arts, |
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mathematics, science, or social studies or two credits in career |
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and technology education, including technology applications, or |
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other academic electives. A credit allowed to be substituted under |
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this subsection may not also be used by the student to satisfy a |
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graduation credit requirement other than credit for completion of a |
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language other than English. The rules must provide that the |
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determination regarding a student's ability to participate in |
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language-other-than-English courses 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; or |
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(2) if the student does not receive special education |
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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. |
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(c-1) A student may earn an endorsement on the student's |
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transcript by successfully completing curriculum requirements for |
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that endorsement adopted by the State Board of Education by rule. |
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The State Board of Education by rule shall provide students with |
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multiple options for earning each endorsement, including, to the |
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greatest extent possible, coherent sequences of courses. The |
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State Board of Education by rule must permit a student to enroll in |
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courses under more than one endorsement curriculum before the |
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student's junior year. An endorsement under this subsection may be |
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earned in any of the following categories: |
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(1) science, technology, engineering, and mathematics |
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(STEM), which includes courses directly related to science, |
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including environmental science, technology, including computer |
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science, cybersecurity, and computer coding, engineering, and |
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advanced mathematics; |
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(2) business and industry, which includes courses |
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directly related to database management, information technology, |
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communications, accounting, finance, marketing, graphic design, |
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architecture, construction, welding, logistics, automotive |
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technology, agricultural science, and heating, ventilation, and |
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air conditioning; |
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(3) public services, which includes courses directly |
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related to health sciences and occupations, mental health, |
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education and training, law enforcement, and culinary arts and |
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hospitality; |
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(4) arts and humanities, which includes courses |
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directly related to political science, world languages, cultural |
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studies, English literature, history, and fine arts; and |
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(5) multidisciplinary studies, which allows a student |
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to: |
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(A) select courses from the curriculum of each |
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endorsement area described by Subdivisions (1) through (4); and |
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(B) earn credits in a variety of advanced courses |
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from multiple content areas sufficient to complete the |
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distinguished level of achievement under the foundation high school |
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program. |
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SECTION 3. Section 28.027(a), Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) In this section, "applied STEM course" means an applied |
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science, technology, engineering, or mathematics course offered as |
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part of a school district's career and technology education [or
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technology applications] curriculum, including technology |
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applications components of that curriculum. |
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SECTION 4. Section 29.190, Education Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (b) and amending Subsection (c) to read as |
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follows: |
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(b) A teacher is entitled to a subsidy under this section if |
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the teacher passes a certification examination related to |
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cybersecurity. |
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(c) On approval by the commissioner, the agency shall pay |
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each school district an amount equal to the cost paid by the |
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district for a [the] certification examination under this |
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section. To obtain reimbursement for a subsidy paid under this |
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section, a district must: |
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(1) pay the fee for the examination; and |
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(2) submit to the commissioner a written application |
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on a form prescribed by the commissioner stating the amount of the |
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fee paid under Subdivision (1) for the certification examination. |
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SECTION 5. Section 39.0235(f), Education Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(f) The assessment instrument adopted under Subsection (d) |
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must: |
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(1) be administered online; |
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(2) be aligned with the relevant essential knowledge |
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and skills requirements for career and technology education |
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relating to technology applications; and |
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(3) incorporate performance-based measures, including |
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a requirement that students perform certain technological tasks and |
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respond to questions based on the completion of those tasks. |
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SECTION 6. Section 39.053(c), Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(c) School districts and campuses must be evaluated based on |
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five domains of indicators of achievement adopted under this |
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section that include: |
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(1) in the first domain, the results of: |
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(A) assessment instruments required under |
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Sections 39.023(a), (c), and (l), including the results of |
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assessment instruments required for graduation retaken by a |
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student, aggregated across grade levels by subject area, including: |
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(i) for the performance standard determined |
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by the commissioner under Section 39.0241(a), the percentage of |
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students who performed satisfactorily on the assessment |
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instruments, aggregated across grade levels by subject area; and |
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(ii) for the college readiness performance |
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standard as determined under Section 39.0241, the percentage of |
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students who performed satisfactorily on the assessment |
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instruments, aggregated across grade levels by subject area; and |
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(B) assessment instruments required under |
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Section 39.023(b), aggregated across grade levels by subject area, |
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including the percentage of students who performed satisfactorily |
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on the assessment instruments, as determined by the performance |
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standard adopted by the agency, aggregated across grade levels by |
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subject area; |
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(2) in the second domain: |
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(A) for assessment instruments under Subdivision |
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(1)(A): |
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(i) for the performance standard determined |
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by the commissioner under Section 39.0241(a), the percentage of |
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students who met the standard for annual improvement on the |
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assessment instruments, as determined by the commissioner by rule |
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or by the method for measuring annual improvement under Section |
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39.034, aggregated across grade levels by subject area; and |
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(ii) for the college readiness performance |
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standard as determined under Section 39.0241, the percentage of |
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students who met the standard for annual improvement on the |
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assessment instruments, as determined by the commissioner by rule |
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or by the method for measuring annual improvement under Section |
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39.034, aggregated across grade levels by subject area; and |
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(B) for assessment instruments under Subdivision |
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(1)(B), the percentage of students who met the standard for annual |
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improvement on the assessment instruments, as determined by the |
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commissioner by rule or by the method for measuring annual |
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improvement under Section 39.034, aggregated across grade levels by |
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subject area; |
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(3) in the third domain, the student academic |
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achievement differentials among students from different racial and |
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ethnic groups and socioeconomic backgrounds; |
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(4) in the fourth domain: |
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(A) for evaluating the performance of high school |
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campuses and districts that include high school campuses: |
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(i) dropout rates, including dropout rates |
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and district completion rates for grade levels 9 through 12, |
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computed in accordance with standards and definitions adopted by |
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the National Center for Education Statistics of the United States |
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Department of Education; |
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(ii) high school graduation rates, computed |
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in accordance with standards and definitions adopted in compliance |
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with the Every Student Succeeds Act [No Child Left Behind Act of
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2001] (20 U.S.C. Section 6301 et seq.); |
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(iii) the percentage of students who |
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successfully completed the curriculum requirements for the |
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distinguished level of achievement under the foundation high school |
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program; |
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(iv) the percentage of students who |
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successfully completed the curriculum requirements for an |
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endorsement under Section 28.025(c-1); |
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(v) the percentage of students who |
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completed a coherent sequence of career and technical courses; |
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(vi) the percentage of students who satisfy |
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the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) college readiness benchmarks |
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prescribed by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board under |
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Section 51.3062(f) on an assessment instrument in reading, writing, |
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or mathematics designated by the Texas Higher Education |
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Coordinating Board under Section 51.3062(c); |
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(vii) the percentage of students who earn |
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at least 12 hours of postsecondary credit required for the |
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foundation high school program under Section 28.025 or to earn an |
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endorsement under Section 28.025(c-1); |
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(viii) the percentage of students who have |
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completed an advanced placement course; |
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(ix) the percentage of students who enlist |
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in the armed forces of the United States; [and] |
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(x) the percentage of students who earn an |
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industry certification; and |
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(xi) the percentage of students who |
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successfully completed a practicum or internship approved by the |
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State Board of Education; |
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(B) for evaluating the performance of middle and |
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junior high school and elementary school campuses and districts |
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that include those campuses: |
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(i) student attendance; and |
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(ii) for middle and junior high school |
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campuses: |
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(a) dropout rates, computed in the |
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manner described by Paragraph (A)(i); and |
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( |
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b) the percentage of students in |
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grades seven and eight who receive instruction in preparing for |
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high school, college, and a career that includes information |
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regarding the creation of a high school personal graduation plan |
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under Section 28.02121, the distinguished level of achievement |
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described by Section 28.025(b-15), each endorsement described by |
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Section 28.025(c-1), college readiness standards, and potential |
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career choices and the education needed to enter those careers; and |
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(C) any additional indicators of student |
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achievement not associated with performance on standardized |
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assessment instruments determined appropriate for consideration by |
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the commissioner in consultation with educators, parents, business |
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and industry representatives, and employers; and |
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(5) in the fifth domain, three programs or specific |
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categories of performance related to community and student |
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engagement locally selected and evaluated as provided by Section |
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39.0546. |
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SECTION 7. Section 42.158, Education Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows: |
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(a-1) A school district entitled to an allotment under this |
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section may use funds from the district's allotment to renovate an |
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existing instructional facility to serve as a dedicated |
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cybersecurity computer laboratory. |
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SECTION 8. Section 56.3041(a), Education Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(a) To be eligible initially for a TEXAS grant, a person |
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graduating from high school on or after May 1, 2013, and enrolling |
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in an eligible institution must: |
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(1) be a resident of this state as determined by |
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coordinating board rules; |
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(2) meet the academic requirements prescribed by |
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Paragraph (A), (B), (C), or (D) as follows: |
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(A) be a graduate of a public or accredited |
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private high school in this state who completed the foundation high |
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school program established under Section 28.025 or its equivalent |
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and have accomplished any two or more of the following: |
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(i) successful completion of the course |
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requirements of the international baccalaureate diploma program or |
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earning of the equivalent of at least 12 semester credit hours of |
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college credit in high school through courses described in Sections |
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28.009(a)(1), (2), and (3); |
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(ii) satisfaction of the Texas Success |
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Initiative (TSI) college readiness benchmarks prescribed by the |
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coordinating board under Section 51.3062(f) on any assessment |
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instrument designated by the coordinating board under Section |
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51.3062(c) or qualification for an exemption as described by |
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Section 51.3062(p), (q), or (q-1); |
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(iii) graduation in the top one-third of |
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the person's high school graduating class or graduation from high |
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school with a grade point average of at least 3.0 on a four-point |
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scale or the equivalent; or |
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(iv) completion for high school credit of |
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at least one advanced mathematics course following the successful |
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completion of an Algebra II course or at least one advanced career |
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and technical [or technology applications] course, including a |
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course in technology applications; |
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(B) have received an associate degree from a |
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public or private institution of higher education; |
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(C) be an undergraduate student who has: |
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(i) previously attended another |
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institution of higher education; |
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(ii) received an initial Texas Educational |
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Opportunity Grant under Subchapter P for the 2014 fall semester or a |
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subsequent academic term; |
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(iii) completed at least 24 semester credit |
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hours at any institution or institutions of higher education; and |
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(iv) earned an overall grade point average |
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of at least 2.5 on a four-point scale or the equivalent on all |
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course work previously attempted; or |
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(D) if sufficient money is available, meet the |
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eligibility criteria described by Section 56.304(a)(2)(A); |
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(3) meet financial need requirements established by |
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the coordinating board; |
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(4) be enrolled in an undergraduate degree or |
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certificate program at an eligible institution; |
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(5) except as provided under rules adopted under |
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Section 56.304(h), be enrolled as: |
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(A) an entering undergraduate student for at |
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least three-fourths of a full course load, as determined by the |
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coordinating board, not later than the 16th month after the |
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calendar month in which the person graduated from high school; |
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(B) an entering undergraduate student who |
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entered military service not later than the first anniversary of |
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the date the person graduated from high school and who enrolled for |
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at least three-fourths of a full course load, as determined by the |
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coordinating board, at the eligible institution not later than 12 |
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months after being honorably discharged from military service; |
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(C) a continuing undergraduate student for at |
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least three-fourths of a full course load, as determined by the |
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coordinating board, not later than the 12th month after the |
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calendar month in which the person received an associate degree |
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from a public or private institution of higher education; or |
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(D) an undergraduate student described by |
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Subdivision (2)(C) who has never previously received a TEXAS grant; |
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(6) have applied for any available financial aid or |
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assistance; and |
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(7) comply with any additional nonacademic |
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requirements adopted by the coordinating board under this |
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subchapter. |
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SECTION 9. Section 61.0517(a), Education Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(a) In this section, "applied STEM course" means an applied |
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science, technology, engineering, or mathematics course offered as |
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part of a school district's career and technology education [or
|
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technology applications] curriculum, including technology |
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applications components of that curriculum, and approved, as |
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provided by Section 28.027, by the State Board of Education for |
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purposes of satisfying the mathematics and science curriculum |
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requirements for the foundation high school program under Section |
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28.025. |
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SECTION 10. Section 135.04, Education Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (d) to read as follows: |
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(d) A cybersecurity program provided by a campus or |
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extension center in partnership with a school district to students |
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enrolled in the district is not subject to the approval of the |
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coordinating board under this section. |
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SECTION 11. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act, the State Board of Education shall by rule modify the |
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essential knowledge and skills of the career and technology |
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education curriculum to include the essential knowledge and skills |
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of the technology applications curriculum to conform with Section |
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28.002(a), Education Code, as amended by this Act. |
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SECTION 12. This Act applies beginning with the 2017-2018 |
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school year. |
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SECTION 13. This Act takes effect immediately if it |
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receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each |
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house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. |
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If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate |
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effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |