Bill Text: TX HB3593 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Relating to instruction in career and technology education provided by public schools, including instruction in technology applications, cybersecurity, and computer coding, and to consideration of completed practicums and internships in school accountability ratings.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2017-06-15 - Effective immediately [HB3593 Detail]

Download: Texas-2017-HB3593-Introduced.html
 
 
  By: Bernal H.B. No. 3593
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to instruction in career and technology education provided
  by public schools, including instruction in technology
  applications, cybersecurity, and computer coding, and to
  consideration of completed practicums and internships in school
  accountability ratings.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 28.002, Education Code, is amended by
  amending Subsections (a), (f), and (g-2) and adding Subsection
  (g-3) to read as follows:
         (a)  Each school district that offers kindergarten through
  grade 12 shall offer, as a required curriculum:
               (1)  a foundation curriculum that includes:
                     (A)  English language arts;
                     (B)  mathematics;
                     (C)  science; and
                     (D)  social studies, consisting of Texas, United
  States, and world history, government, economics, with emphasis on
  the free enterprise system and its benefits, and geography; and
               (2)  an enrichment curriculum that includes:
                     (A)  to the extent possible, languages other than
  English;
                     (B)  health, with emphasis on the importance of
  proper nutrition and exercise;
                     (C)  physical education;
                     (D)  fine arts;
                     (E)  career and technology education, including[;
                     [(F)]  technology applications;
                     (F) [(G)]  religious literature, including the
  Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) and New Testament, and its impact
  on history and literature; and
                     (G) [(H)]  personal financial literacy.
         (f)  A school district may offer courses for local credit in
  addition to those in the required curriculum. The State Board of
  Education shall:
               (1)  be flexible in approving a course for credit for
  high school graduation under this subsection; and
               (2)  approve courses in cybersecurity for credit for
  high school graduation under this subsection.
         (g-2)  Each school district shall annually report to the
  agency the names of the courses, programs, institutions of higher
  education, and internships in which the district's students have
  enrolled under Subsection (g-1) and the names of the courses and
  institutions of higher education in which the district's students
  have enrolled under Subsection (g-3).  The agency shall make
  available information provided under this subsection to other
  districts.
         (g-3)  A district may also offer a course that is approved by
  the board of trustees for credit without obtaining State Board of
  Education approval if the district partners with a public or
  private institution of higher education that offers an
  undergraduate degree program in cybersecurity to develop and
  provide the course.
         SECTION 2.  Sections 28.025(b-12), (b-14), and (c-1),
  Education Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (b-12)  In adopting rules under Subsection (b-1), the State
  Board of Education shall adopt criteria to allow a student to comply
  with the curriculum requirements for the two credits in a language
  other than English required under Subsection (b-1)(5) by
  substituting two credits in computer programming languages,
  including computer coding.
         (b-14)  In adopting rules under Subsection (b-1), the State
  Board of Education shall allow a student who, due to disability, is
  unable to complete two courses in the same language in a language
  other than English, as provided under Subsection (b-1)(5), to
  substitute for those credits two credits in English language arts,
  mathematics, science, or social studies or two credits in career
  and technology education, including technology applications, or
  other academic electives.  A credit allowed to be substituted under
  this subsection may not also be used by the student to satisfy a
  graduation credit requirement other than credit for completion of a
  language other than English.  The rules must provide that the
  determination regarding a student's ability to participate in
  language-other-than-English courses will be made by:
               (1)  if the student receives special education services
  under Subchapter A, Chapter 29, the student's admission, review,
  and dismissal committee; or
               (2)  if the student does not receive special education
  services under Subchapter A, Chapter 29, but is covered by Section
  504, Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. Section 794), the
  committee established for the student under that Act.
         (c-1)  A student may earn an endorsement on the student's
  transcript by successfully completing curriculum requirements for
  that endorsement adopted by the State Board of Education by rule.
  The State Board of Education by rule shall provide students with
  multiple options for earning each endorsement, including, to the
  greatest extent possible, coherent sequences of courses.  The
  State Board of Education by rule must permit a student to enroll in
  courses under more than one endorsement curriculum before the
  student's junior year.  An endorsement under this subsection may be
  earned in any of the following categories:
               (1)  science, technology, engineering, and mathematics
  (STEM), which includes courses directly related to science,
  including environmental science, technology, including computer
  science, cybersecurity, and computer coding, engineering, and
  advanced mathematics;
               (2)  business and industry, which includes courses
  directly related to database management, information technology,
  communications, accounting, finance, marketing, graphic design,
  architecture, construction, welding, logistics, automotive
  technology, agricultural science, and heating, ventilation, and
  air conditioning;
               (3)  public services, which includes courses directly
  related to health sciences and occupations, mental health,
  education and training, law enforcement, and culinary arts and
  hospitality;
               (4)  arts and humanities, which includes courses
  directly related to political science, world languages, cultural
  studies, English literature, history, and fine arts; and
               (5)  multidisciplinary studies, which allows a student
  to:
                     (A)  select courses from the curriculum of each
  endorsement area described by Subdivisions (1) through (4); and
                     (B)  earn credits in a variety of advanced courses
  from multiple content areas sufficient to complete the
  distinguished level of achievement under the foundation high school
  program.
         SECTION 3.  Section 28.027(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 [or
  technology applications] curriculum, including technology
  applications components of that curriculum.
         SECTION 4.  Section 29.190, Education Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (b) and amending Subsection (c) to read as
  follows:
         (b)  A teacher is entitled to a subsidy under this section if
  the teacher passes a certification examination related to
  cybersecurity.
         (c)  On approval by the commissioner, the agency shall pay
  each school district an amount equal to the cost paid by the
  district for a [the] certification examination under this
  section.  To obtain reimbursement for a subsidy paid under this
  section, a district must:
               (1)  pay the fee for the examination; and
               (2)  submit to the commissioner a written application
  on a form prescribed by the commissioner stating the amount of the
  fee paid under Subdivision (1) for the certification examination.
         SECTION 5.  Section 39.0235(f), Education Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (f)  The assessment instrument adopted under Subsection (d)
  must:
               (1)  be administered online;
               (2)  be aligned with the relevant essential knowledge
  and skills requirements for career and technology education
  relating to technology applications; and
               (3)  incorporate performance-based measures, including
  a requirement that students perform certain technological tasks and
  respond to questions based on the completion of those tasks.
         SECTION 6.  Section 39.053(c), Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (c)  School districts and campuses must be evaluated based on
  five domains of indicators of achievement adopted under this
  section that include:
               (1)  in the first domain, the results of:
                     (A)  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:
                           (i)  for the performance standard determined
  by the commissioner under Section 39.0241(a),  the percentage of
  students who performed satisfactorily on the assessment
  instruments, aggregated across grade levels by subject area; and
                           (ii)  for the college readiness performance
  standard as determined under Section 39.0241, the percentage of
  students who performed satisfactorily on the assessment
  instruments, aggregated across grade levels by subject area; and
                     (B)  assessment instruments required under
  Section 39.023(b), aggregated across grade levels by subject area,
  including the percentage of students who performed satisfactorily
  on the assessment instruments, as determined by the performance
  standard adopted by the agency, aggregated across grade levels by
  subject area;
               (2)  in the second domain:
                     (A)  for assessment instruments under Subdivision
  (1)(A):
                           (i)  for the performance standard determined
  by the commissioner under Section 39.0241(a), the percentage of
  students who met the standard for annual improvement on the
  assessment instruments, as determined by the commissioner by rule
  or by the method for measuring annual improvement under Section
  39.034, aggregated across grade levels by subject area; and
                           (ii)  for the college readiness performance
  standard as determined under Section 39.0241, the percentage of
  students who met the standard for annual improvement on the
  assessment instruments, as determined by the commissioner by rule
  or by the method for measuring annual improvement under Section
  39.034, aggregated across grade levels by subject area; and
                     (B)  for assessment instruments under Subdivision
  (1)(B), the percentage of students who met the standard for annual
  improvement on the assessment instruments, as determined by the
  commissioner by rule or by the method for measuring annual
  improvement under Section 39.034, aggregated across grade levels by
  subject area;
               (3)  in the third domain, the student academic
  achievement differentials among students from different racial and
  ethnic groups and socioeconomic backgrounds;
               (4)  in the fourth domain:
                     (A)  for evaluating the performance of high school
  campuses and districts that include high school campuses:
                           (i)  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;
                           (ii)  high school graduation rates, computed
  in accordance with standards and definitions adopted in compliance
  with the Every Student Succeeds Act [No Child Left Behind Act of
  2001] (20 U.S.C. Section 6301 et seq.);
                           (iii)  the percentage of students who
  successfully completed the curriculum requirements for the
  distinguished level of achievement under the foundation high school
  program;
                           (iv)  the percentage of students who
  successfully completed the curriculum requirements for an
  endorsement under Section 28.025(c-1);
                           (v)  the percentage of students who
  completed a coherent sequence of career and technical courses;
                           (vi)  the percentage of students who satisfy
  the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) college readiness benchmarks
  prescribed by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board under
  Section 51.3062(f) on an assessment instrument in reading, writing,
  or mathematics designated by the Texas Higher Education
  Coordinating Board under Section 51.3062(c);
                           (vii)  the percentage of students who earn
  at least 12 hours of postsecondary credit required for the
  foundation high school program under Section 28.025 or to earn an
  endorsement under Section 28.025(c-1);
                           (viii)  the percentage of students who have
  completed an advanced placement course;
                           (ix)  the percentage of students who enlist
  in the armed forces of the United States; [and]
                           (x)  the percentage of students who earn an
  industry certification; and
                           (xi)  the percentage of students who
  successfully completed a practicum or internship approved by the
  State Board of Education;
                     (B)  for evaluating the performance of middle and
  junior high school and elementary school campuses and districts
  that include those campuses:
                           (i)  student attendance; and
                           (ii)  for middle and junior high school
  campuses:
                                 (a)  dropout rates, computed in the
  manner described by Paragraph (A)(i); and
                                 (
  b)  the percentage of students in
  grades seven and eight who receive instruction in preparing for
  high school, college, and a career that includes information
  regarding the creation of a high school personal graduation plan
  under Section 28.02121, the distinguished level of achievement
  described by Section 28.025(b-15), each endorsement described by
  Section 28.025(c-1), college readiness standards, and potential
  career choices and the education needed to enter those careers; and
                     (C)  any additional indicators of student
  achievement not associated with performance on standardized
  assessment instruments determined appropriate for consideration by
  the commissioner in consultation with educators, parents, business
  and industry representatives, and employers; and
               (5)  in the fifth domain, three programs or specific
  categories of performance related to community and student
  engagement locally selected and evaluated as provided by Section
  39.0546.
         SECTION 7.  Section 42.158, Education Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows:
         (a-1)  A school district entitled to an allotment under this
  section may use funds from the district's allotment to renovate an
  existing instructional facility to serve as a dedicated
  cybersecurity computer laboratory.
         SECTION 8.  Section 56.3041(a), Education Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (a)  To be eligible initially for a TEXAS grant, a person
  graduating from high school on or after May 1, 2013, and enrolling
  in an eligible 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), (C), or (D) as follows:
                     (A)  be a graduate of a public or accredited
  private high school in this state who completed the foundation high
  school program established under Section 28.025 or its equivalent
  and have accomplished any two or more of the following:
                           (i)  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 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 or at least one advanced career
  and technical [or technology applications] course, including a
  course in technology applications;
                     (B)  have received an associate degree from a
  public or private institution of higher education;
                     (C)  be an undergraduate student who has:
                           (i)  previously attended another
  institution of higher education;
                           (ii)  received an initial Texas Educational
  Opportunity Grant under Subchapter P for the 2014 fall semester or a
  subsequent academic term;
                           (iii)  completed at least 24 semester credit
  hours at any institution or institutions of higher education; and
                           (iv)  earned an overall grade point average
  of at least 2.5 on a four-point scale or the equivalent on all
  course work previously attempted; or
                     (D)  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 an eligible 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 eligible institution not later than 12
  months after being honorably discharged from military service;
                     (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; or
                     (D)  an undergraduate student described by
  Subdivision (2)(C) who has never previously received a TEXAS grant;
               (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 9.  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 [or
  technology applications] curriculum, including technology
  applications components of that 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 high school program under Section
  28.025.
         SECTION 10.  Section 135.04, Education Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:
         (d)  A cybersecurity program provided by a campus or
  extension center in partnership with a school district to students
  enrolled in the district is not subject to the approval of the
  coordinating board under this section.
         SECTION 11.  As soon as practicable after the effective date
  of this Act, the State Board of Education shall by rule modify the
  essential knowledge and skills of the career and technology
  education curriculum to include the essential knowledge and skills
  of the technology applications curriculum to conform with Section
  28.002(a), Education Code, as amended by this Act.
         SECTION 12.  This Act applies beginning with the 2017-2018
  school year.
         SECTION 13.  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, 2017.
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