Bill Text: TX HB129 | 2021 | 87th Legislature 2nd Special Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the operation by a school district of a vocational education program to provide eligible high school students with vocational and educational training under a plan for the issuance of a high school diploma and the application of certain student-based allotments under the public school finance system.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-08-09 - Filed [HB129 Detail]
Download: Texas-2021-HB129-Introduced.html
| By: Gates | H.B. No. 129 | |
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| relating to the operation by a school district of a vocational | ||
| education program to provide eligible high school students with | ||
| vocational and educational training under a plan for the issuance | ||
| of a high school diploma and the application of certain | ||
| student-based allotments under the public school finance system. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| ARTICLE 1. VOCATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS | ||
| SECTION 1.01. Subtitle F, Title 2, Education Code, is | ||
| amended by adding Chapter 30B to read as follows: | ||
| CHAPTER 30B. VOCATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS | ||
| Sec. 30B.001. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "board" means | ||
| the State Board of Education. | ||
| Sec. 30B.002. PURPOSE. The purpose of a vocational | ||
| education program operated under this chapter and authorized as a | ||
| campus or campus program under a charter granted under Subchapter | ||
| C, Chapter 12, is to provide public education to high school | ||
| students whose educational needs are better served by focused | ||
| vocational education and training. | ||
| Sec. 30B.003. VOCATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAM. (a) Each | ||
| vocational education program granted a charter under Subchapter C, | ||
| Chapter 12, and operating under this chapter shall offer students | ||
| who reside in the district a program that is aligned with: | ||
| (1) industry-recognized credentials and certificates | ||
| included in the inventory required by Section 29.189; or | ||
| (2) industry-defined and industry-recognized skill | ||
| standards developed under Section 2308.109, Government Code. | ||
| (b) The board shall establish minimum curriculum | ||
| requirements for a vocational education program operated under this | ||
| chapter. In providing curriculum requirements, the board shall | ||
| require the successful completion of not more than 24 credits for | ||
| graduation and the issuance of a diploma under Section 30B.004. Not | ||
| less than 10 credits of the minimum curriculum requirements must be | ||
| credits earned in vocational education courses offered under the | ||
| program. | ||
| (c) A vocational education program may require the | ||
| completion of additional credits that are not included in the | ||
| minimum curriculum requirements established by the board, as | ||
| requirements for graduation and the issuance of a diploma under | ||
| Section 30B.004 provided that the program does not require the | ||
| successful completion of more than 24 credits. | ||
| (d) In providing the minimum curriculum requirements under | ||
| Subsection (b), the board shall require: | ||
| (1) one-half credit in a course that provides | ||
| instruction in the basic knowledge and skills necessary to: | ||
| (A) successfully run an independent business; | ||
| and | ||
| (B) develop entrepreneurship; | ||
| (2) one-half credit in a course providing instruction | ||
| regarding the relationship between business and government; and | ||
| (3) one-half credit in a course in industrial arts. | ||
| (e) The board by rule may provide curriculum standards for | ||
| the courses described by Subsection (d). | ||
| (f) The board by rule shall allow for a student to satisfy | ||
| the one-half credit requirement for a course described by: | ||
| (1) Subsection (d)(2) by earning one-half credit for a | ||
| course in government offered under the foundation high school | ||
| program; and | ||
| (2) Subsection (d)(3) by earning one-half credit for a | ||
| course in fine arts offered under the foundation high school | ||
| program. | ||
| (g) The board by rule may require that one or more courses | ||
| described by Subsection (d) or (f) provide basic instruction in | ||
| technical writing. | ||
| (h) In offering a vocational education program under this | ||
| chapter, a school district may form partnerships between the | ||
| district and public junior colleges, public technical institutes, | ||
| public state colleges, and any other public postsecondary | ||
| institutions in this state offering academic or technical education | ||
| or vocational training under a certificate program or an associate | ||
| degree program. | ||
| (i) A school district may use state funding received under | ||
| Chapter 48 that is available for the purpose to pay tuition costs | ||
| for district students enrolled in the district's vocational | ||
| education program and receiving academic or technical education or | ||
| vocational training from a college or institution under a | ||
| partnership entered into under Subsection (h). | ||
| Sec. 30B.004. VOCATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA. | ||
| Notwithstanding any other law, agency rule, or school district | ||
| policy, a student who successfully completes the course | ||
| requirements for a district's vocational education program is | ||
| entitled to receive a high school diploma from the district in | ||
| accordance with commissioner rules concerning high school | ||
| graduation requirements for students obtaining a high school | ||
| diploma under a district's vocational education program. | ||
| Sec. 30B.005. ENROLLMENT ELIGIBILITY. A student is | ||
| eligible to enroll in a school district's vocational education | ||
| program if: | ||
| (1) the district has received the form indicating | ||
| informed consent for the student under Section 30B.006; and | ||
| (2) the student attends a high school campus of the | ||
| district and has completed the student's 10th grade year. | ||
| Sec. 30B.006. INFORMED CONSENT. (a) Before a student may | ||
| enroll in a school district's vocational education program, the | ||
| student and the student's parent, guardian, or other person | ||
| standing in parental relation to the student must be advised by a | ||
| school counselor concerning: | ||
| (1) specific benefits of graduating under the | ||
| foundation high school program established under Section 28.025; | ||
| (2) specific benefits of graduating under a vocational | ||
| education program with a diploma and earning industry-recognized | ||
| credentials through the program; | ||
| (3) the differences between the curriculum | ||
| requirements for obtaining a diploma under a vocational education | ||
| program and the curriculum requirements for obtaining a diploma | ||
| under the foundation high school program, including specific | ||
| foundation high school program courses that will be replaced by | ||
| vocational education program courses; and | ||
| (4) the number of additional credits that may be | ||
| required to graduate under the foundation high school program if | ||
| the student chooses to cease participation in a vocational | ||
| education program and resume participation in the foundation high | ||
| school program. | ||
| (b) After receiving the required counseling described by | ||
| Subsection (a), the student's parent, guardian, or other person | ||
| standing in parental relation to the student may provide written | ||
| permission for the student to enroll in the school district's | ||
| vocational education program, on a form adopted by the agency, to | ||
| the school counselor. | ||
| Sec. 30B.007. ASSESSMENT INSTRUMENTS. (a) A school | ||
| district may adopt and administer assessment instruments necessary | ||
| for a student enrolled in the district's vocational education | ||
| program to earn an industry-recognized license, credential, or | ||
| certificate. | ||
| (b) Notwithstanding any other law, the commissioner may not | ||
| require that a student enrolled in a district's vocational | ||
| education program be administered an assessment instrument under | ||
| Section 39.023 that is not required to be administered to the | ||
| student under federal law. | ||
| (c) The commissioner may not waive the application of | ||
| Subsection (b) under Section 7.056 or any other law. This | ||
| subsection does not prohibit the commissioner from waiving the | ||
| administration of assessment instruments otherwise required to be | ||
| administered to students under federal law, in accordance with | ||
| waiver authority granted to the commissioner by the United States | ||
| Department of Education. | ||
| Sec. 30B.008. EXAM SUBSIDY. A student enrolled in a school | ||
| district's vocational education program is entitled to an exam | ||
| subsidy for an exam administered under Section 30B.007 that | ||
| qualifies the student for an industry-recognized license, | ||
| credential, or certificate. | ||
| Sec. 30B.009. ACHIEVEMENT INDICATORS. (a) The | ||
| commissioner shall adopt a set of achievement indicators for school | ||
| district students enrolled in a district's vocational education | ||
| program based on recommendations provided by the Texas Workforce | ||
| Investment Council. | ||
| (b) The achievement indicators adopted by the commissioner | ||
| must measure outcomes for a school district's vocational education | ||
| program with respect to: | ||
| (1) preparing students for success in: | ||
| (A) achieving industry-recognized licenses, | ||
| credentials, and certificates; | ||
| (B) training in postsecondary occupational | ||
| programs; and | ||
| (C) entering the workforce; | ||
| (2) reducing outcome differentials among students | ||
| from different racial and ethnic groups and socioeconomic | ||
| backgrounds; and | ||
| (3) informing parents and employers regarding the | ||
| performance of school district vocational education programs and | ||
| students who enroll in those programs. | ||
| (c) Each school district that operates a vocational | ||
| education program under this chapter shall submit to the | ||
| commissioner all relevant information the commissioner determines | ||
| necessary to evaluate the district's vocational education program | ||
| based on the achievement indicators adopted under this section. | ||
| (d) The commissioner shall annually publish a report on the | ||
| performance of vocational education programs operated under this | ||
| chapter based on the achievement indicators. | ||
| Sec. 30B.010. MINIMUM INSTRUCTOR QUALIFICATIONS. (a) A | ||
| person employed by a school district as a vocational education | ||
| instructor of a district's vocational education program must have | ||
| demonstrated subject matter expertise related to the subject | ||
| taught, including: | ||
| (1) professional work experience; | ||
| (2) formal training and education; | ||
| (3) holding a relevant, active, industry-recognized | ||
| license, credential, or certificate; or | ||
| (4) any combination of Subdivisions (1), (2), and (3). | ||
| (b) A person employed by a school district as a vocational | ||
| education instructor of a district's vocational education program | ||
| must have received at least 20 hours of classroom management | ||
| training as determined by the board of trustees of the district. | ||
| Sec. 30B.011. MEMBERSHIP IN TEACHER RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF | ||
| TEXAS. A school district employee who provides services under the | ||
| district's vocational education program and qualifies for | ||
| membership in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas shall be | ||
| covered under the system to the same extent another qualified | ||
| employee of a school district is covered. | ||
| Sec. 30B.012. BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIPS. (a) A | ||
| school district operating a vocational education program under this | ||
| chapter may partner with private sector businesses to ensure | ||
| students have sufficient opportunities to participate in | ||
| apprenticeship training programs and other workplace-based | ||
| education. | ||
| (b) A school district may sponsor apprenticeship training | ||
| programs under Chapter 133 for students enrolled in the district's | ||
| vocational education program. | ||
| Sec. 30B.013. LIMITATION ON CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION | ||
| ALLOTMENT. For each student enrolled in a school district's | ||
| vocational education program, the district's entitlement to the | ||
| career and technology education allotment under Section 48.106 is | ||
| limited to the amount determined by the commissioner in accordance | ||
| with Subsection (a-1) of that section. | ||
| ARTICLE 2. OPERATION OF VOCATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAM AS CAMPUS OR | ||
| CAMPUS PROGRAM CHARTER | ||
| SECTION 2.01. Section 12.056, Education Code, is amended by | ||
| adding Subsection (c) to read as follows: | ||
| (c) Notwithstanding Subsection (b), requirements related to | ||
| high school graduation under Section 28.025 do not apply to the | ||
| issuance of a diploma under a vocational education program under | ||
| Chapter 30B operated as a campus or campus program under a charter | ||
| granted under this subchapter if the program is administered in | ||
| accordance with Chapter 30B and any applicable rules adopted by the | ||
| State Board of Education under that chapter. | ||
| SECTION 2.02. Section 28.016(b), Education Code, is amended | ||
| to read as follows: | ||
| (b) The instruction must include information regarding: | ||
| (1) the creation of a high school personal graduation | ||
| plan under Section 28.02121; | ||
| (2) the distinguished level of achievement described | ||
| by Section 28.025(b-15); | ||
| (3) each endorsement described by Section | ||
| 28.025(c-1); | ||
| (4) college readiness standards; [ |
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| (5) potential career choices and the education needed | ||
| to enter those careers; and | ||
| (6) programs of study offered through a vocational | ||
| education program under Chapter 30B operated as a campus or campus | ||
| program under a charter granted under Subchapter C, Chapter 12. | ||
| SECTION 2.03. Section 29.182(b), Education Code, is amended | ||
| to read as follows: | ||
| (b) The state plan must include procedures designed to | ||
| ensure that: | ||
| (1) all secondary and postsecondary students have the | ||
| opportunity to participate in career and technology education | ||
| programs; | ||
| (2) the state complies with requirements for | ||
| supplemental federal career and technology education funding; | ||
| (3) career and technology education is established as | ||
| a part of the total education system of this state and constitutes | ||
| an option for student learning that provides a rigorous course of | ||
| study consistent with the required curriculum under Section 28.002 | ||
| and under which a student may receive specific education in a career | ||
| and technology program that: | ||
| (A) incorporates competencies leading to | ||
| academic and technical skill attainment; | ||
| (B) leads to: | ||
| (i) an industry-recognized license, | ||
| credential, or certificate; or | ||
| (ii) at the postsecondary level, an | ||
| associate or baccalaureate degree; | ||
| (C) includes opportunities for students to earn | ||
| college credit for coursework; [ |
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| (D) includes, as an integral part of the program, | ||
| participation by students and teachers in activities of career and | ||
| technical student organizations supported by the agency and the | ||
| State Board of Education; and | ||
| (E) includes the opportunity for students to | ||
| participate in focused vocational education through a vocational | ||
| education program under Chapter 30B operated as a campus or campus | ||
| program under a charter granted under Subchapter C, Chapter 12; and | ||
| (4) a school district provides, to the greatest extent | ||
| possible, to a student participating in a career and technology | ||
| education program opportunities to enroll in dual credit courses | ||
| designed to lead to a degree, license, or certification as part of | ||
| the program. | ||
| ARTICLE 3. APPLICATION OF CERTAIN STUDENT-BASED ALLOTMENTS | ||
| REGARDING VOCATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAM STUDENTS | ||
| SECTION 3.01. Section 48.106, Education Code, is amended by | ||
| amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) to read as | ||
| follows: | ||
| (a) Subject to Subsection (a-1), for [ |
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| equivalent student in average daily attendance in an approved | ||
| career and technology education program in grades 7 through 12, a | ||
| district is entitled to: | ||
| (1) an annual allotment equal to the basic allotment | ||
| multiplied by a weight of 1.35; and | ||
| (2) $50 for each of the following in which the student | ||
| is enrolled: | ||
| (A) two or more advanced career and technology | ||
| education classes for a total of three or more credits; | ||
| (B) a campus designated as a P-TECH school under | ||
| Section 29.556; or | ||
| (C) a campus that is a member of the New Tech | ||
| Network and that focuses on project-based learning and work-based | ||
| education. | ||
| (a-1) For each full-time equivalent student in average | ||
| daily attendance in a vocational education program operated under | ||
| Chapter 30B and authorized as a campus or campus program under a | ||
| charter granted under Subchapter C, Chapter 12, only the first 10 | ||
| hours of instructional hours provided to those students under the | ||
| program each week qualify toward the district's entitlement to the | ||
| allotment under Subsection (a)(1), and the commissioner shall | ||
| proportionately reduce the amount of the entitlement accordingly to | ||
| an amount that reflects the limitation on qualified instructional | ||
| hours per week using a method adopted by the commissioner. | ||
| SECTION 3.02. Sections 48.110(f) and (h), Education Code, | ||
| are amended to read as follows: | ||
| (f) For purposes of this section, an annual graduate | ||
| demonstrates: | ||
| (1) college readiness if the annual graduate: | ||
| (A) achieves college readiness standards used | ||
| for accountability purposes under Chapter 39 on the ACT, the SAT, or | ||
| an assessment instrument designated by the Texas Higher Education | ||
| Coordinating Board under Section 51.334; and | ||
| (B) during a time period established by | ||
| commissioner rule, enrolls at a postsecondary educational | ||
| institution; | ||
| (2) career readiness if: | ||
| (A) the annual graduate: | ||
| (i) [ |
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| standards used for accountability purposes under Chapter 39 on the | ||
| ACT, the SAT, or an assessment instrument designated by the Texas | ||
| Higher Education Coordinating Board under Section 51.334; and | ||
| (ii) [ |
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| by commissioner rule, earns an industry-accepted certificate; or | ||
| (B) the annual graduate earns an | ||
| industry-recognized license, credential, or certificate under a | ||
| vocational education program under Chapter 30B; and | ||
| (3) military readiness if the annual graduate: | ||
| (A) achieves a passing score set by the | ||
| applicable military branch on the Armed Services Vocational | ||
| Aptitude Battery; and | ||
| (B) during a time period established by | ||
| commissioner rule, enlists in the armed forces of the United | ||
| States. | ||
| (h) On application by a school district, the commissioner | ||
| may allow annual graduates from the district to satisfy the | ||
| requirement for demonstrating career readiness under Subsection | ||
| (f)(2)(A)(ii) [ |
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| sequence of courses required to obtain an industry-accepted | ||
| certificate. The district must demonstrate in the application that | ||
| the district is unable to provide sufficient courses or programs to | ||
| enable students enrolled at the district to earn an | ||
| industry-accepted certificate within the time period established | ||
| by the commissioner under Subsection (f)(2)(A)(ii) [ |
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| The commissioner by rule shall provide the criteria required for an | ||
| application under this subsection. | ||
| ARTICLE 4. TRANSITION; EFFECTIVE DATE | ||
| SECTION 4.01. This Act applies beginning with the 2022-2023 | ||
| school year. | ||
| SECTION 4.02. 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 on the 91st day after the last day of | ||
| the legislative session. | ||
