Texas 2009 - 81st Regular

Texas House Bill HB2471 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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1	1	By: Keffer H.B. No. 2471
2	2
3	3
4	4	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
5	5	AN ACT
6	6	relating to career and technical education in the public schools
7	7	and high school graduation requirements.
8	8	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
9	9	ARTICLE 1. HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
10	10	SECTION 1.01. Sections 28.002(a) and (n), Education Code,
11	11	are amended to read as follows:
12	12	(a) Each school district that offers kindergarten through
13	13	grade 12 shall offer, as a required curriculum:
14	14	(1) a foundation curriculum that includes:
15	15	(A) English language arts;
16	16	(B) mathematics;
17	17	(C) science; and
18	18	(D) social studies, consisting of Texas, United
19	19	States, and world history, government, and geography; and
20	20	(2) an enrichment curriculum that includes:
21	21	(A) to the extent possible, languages other than
22	22	English;
23	23	(B) health, with emphasis on the importance of
24	24	proper nutrition and exercise;
25	25	(C) physical education;
26	26	(D) fine arts;
27	27	(E) economics, with emphasis on the free
28	28	enterprise system and its benefits;
29	29	(F) career and technicaltechnology education;
30	30	(G) technology applications; and
31	31	(H) religious literature, including the Hebrew
32	32	Scriptures (Old Testament) and New Testament, and its impact on
33	33	history and literature.
34	34	(n) The State Board of Education shallmay by rule develop
35	35	and implement a plan designed to incorporate foundation curriculum
36	36	requirements into the career and technicaltechnology education
37	37	curriculum under Subsection (a)(2)(F).
38	38	SECTION 1.02. Section 28.025 of the Education Code is
39	39	amended to read:
40	40	Sec. 28.025. HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA AND CERTIFICATE; ACADEMIC
41	41	ACHIEVEMENT RECORD. (a) The State Board of Education by rule
42	42	shall determine curriculum requirements for the minimum
43	43	standard, recommended, and advanced high school programs that are
44	44	consistent with the required curriculum under Section 28.002.
45	45	(b) A school district shall ensure that each student enrolls
46	46	in the courses necessary to complete the curriculum requirements
47	47	identified by the State Board of Education under Subsection (a) for
48	48	the recommended or, advanced high school and program unless the
49	49	student, the student's parent or other person standing in parental
50	50	relation to the student, and a school counselor or school
51	51	administrator agree that the student should be permitted to take
52	52	courses under the minimumstandard high school programs. The
53	53	State Board of Education by rule shall require that:
54	54	(1) the curriculum requirements for the recommended
55	55	and advanced high school programs include a requirement that
56	56	students successfully complete four courses in each subject of the
57	57	foundation curriculum under Section 28.002(a)(1); and
58	58	(2) Within the recommended program students shall have
59	59	at least two distinct options, including but not limited to:
60	60	(A) a science and mathematics option that shall
61	61	require four credits in mathematics and four credits in science
62	62	from the list of courses approved by the State Board of Education;
63	63	and
64	64	(b) an opportunities option that that shall not
65	65	require more than three credits in mathematics and three credits in
66	66	science; this option shall include four credits approved by the
67	67	State Board of Education in any combination of the following
68	68	courses:
69	69	(i) career and technical;
70	70	(ii) English language arts;
71	71	(iii) social studies;
72	72	(iv) languages other than English; and
73	73	(v) fine arts.
74	74	(c) A school district may submit one or more career and
75	75	technical course for review and approval by the State Board of
76	76	Education to satisfy the requirements of subsections
77	77	28.002(a)(1)(B) and 28.002(a)(1)(C). The district shall submit any
78	78	such course on or before January 1 preceding the first school year
79	79	for which the district requests approval of the course.
80	80	(1) The district shall submit a detailed description
81	81	of the course, the curriculum, the instructional materials and/or
82	82	equipment required, and any other information required by the
83	83	board.
84	84	(2) The board shall have 180 days from the date the
85	85	district requests approval of the course and submits required
86	86	information to approve or disapprove the course. If the board (or
87	87	commissioner) does not disapprove the course within the 180-day
88	88	period, the course shall be deemed approved to meet the
89	89	requirements of subsections 28.002(a)(1)(B) and 28.002(a)(1)(C).
90	90	(3) Approval of a course by the board or by expiration
91	91	of the 180-day period shall be for a period of three school years,
92	92	after which the district may request that the course be re-approved
93	93	for an additional three-year period.
94	94	(4) Any school district in Texas may offer a course
95	95	that has been approved in accordance with this subsection.
96	96	(b-1d) (1) except as provided by Subsection (b-2), the
97	97	curriculum requirements for the recommended and advanced high
98	98	school programs under Subsection (a) include a requirement that
99	99	students successfully complete four courses in each subject of the
100	100	foundation curriculum under Section 28.002(a)(1);
101	101	(2) one or more courses offered in the required
102	102	curriculum for the recommended and advanced high school programs
103	103	include a research writing component.
104	104	(b-2) In adopting rules under Subsection (b-1), the State
105	105	Board of Education shall allow a student to comply with the
106	106	curriculum requirements for a mathematics course under Subsection
107	107	(b-1)(1) taken after the successful completion of an Algebra II
108	108	course or science course under Subsection (b-1)(1) taken after the
109	109	successful completion of a physics course by successfully
110	110	completing an advanced career and technical course designated by
111	111	the State Board of Education as containing substantively similar
112	112	and rigorous academic content. A student may use the option
113	113	provided by this subsection for not more than two courses.
114	114	(ce) A person may receive a diploma if the person is
115	115	eligible for a diploma under Section 28.0251. In other cases, a
116	116	student may graduate and receive a diploma only if:
117	117	(1) the student successfully completes the curriculum
118	118	requirements identified by the State Board of Education under
119	119	Subsection (a) and complies with Section 39.025; or
120	120	(2) the student successfully completes an
121	121	individualized education program developed under Section 29.005.
122	122	(df) A school district may issue a certificate of coursework
123	123	completion to a student who successfully completes the curriculum
124	124	requirements identified by the State Board of Education under
125	125	Subsection (a) but who fails to comply with Section 39.025. A
126	126	school district may allow a student who receives a certificate to
127	127	participate in a graduation ceremony with students receiving high
128	128	school diplomas.
129	129	(eg) Each school district shall report the academic
130	130	achievement record of students who have completed a minimum
131	131	standard, recommended, or advanced high school program on
132	132	transcript forms adopted by the State Board of Education. The
133	133	transcript forms adopted by the board must be designed to clearly
134	134	differentiate between each of the high school programs and identify
135	135	whether a student received a diploma or a certificate of coursework
136	136	completion.
137	137	(fh) A school district shall issue a certificate of
138	138	attendance to a student who receives special education services
139	139	under Subchapter A, Chapter 29, and who has completed four years of
140	140	high school but has not completed the student's individualized
141	141	education program. A school district shall allow a student who
142	142	receives a certificate to participate in a graduation ceremony with
143	143	students receiving high school diplomas. A student may participate
144	144	in only one graduation ceremony under this subsection. This
145	145	subsection does not preclude a student from receiving a diploma
146	146	under Subsection (c)(2)(e).
147	147	(gj) If a student, other than a student permitted to take
148	148	courses under the minimum standard high school program as provided
149	149	by Subsection (bc), is unable to complete the recommended or
150	150	advanced high school program solely because necessary courses were
151	151	unavailable to the student at the appropriate times in the
152	152	student's high school career as a result of course scheduling, lack
153	153	of enrollment capacity, or another cause not within the student's
154	154	control, the school district shall indicate that fact on the
155	155	student's transcript form described by Subsection (eg).
156	156	SECTION 1.03. Section 29.182, Education Code, is amended to
157	157	read as follows:
158	158	Sec. 29.182. STATE PLAN FOR CAREER AND TECHNICAL
159	159	TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION. (a) In coordination with the State Board of
160	160	Education, the Texas Workforce Commission, and the comptroller, the
161	161	[The] agency shall prepare and biennially update a state plan for
162	162	career and technicaltechnology education that sets forth
163	163	objectives for career and technicaltechnology education for the
164	164	next biennium and long-term goals for the following five years.
165	165	(b) The state plan must include procedures designed to
166	166	ensure that:
167	167	(1) all secondary and postsecondary students have the
168	168	opportunity to participate in career and technicaltechnology
169	169	education programs;
170	170	(2) the state complies with requirements for
171	171	supplemental federal career and technicaltechnology education
172	172	funding; and
173	173	(3) career and technicaltechnology education is
174	174	established as a part of the total education system of this state.
175	175	(c) Not later than January 1 of each odd-numbered year, the
176	176	agency shall submit the most recently updated state plan to the
177	177	legislature.
178	178	SECTION 1.04. Section 39.025(a), Education Code, is amended
179	179	to read as follows:
180	180	(a) The commissioner shall adopt rules requiring a student
181	181	participating in the recommended or advanced high school program to
182	182	be administered each end-of-course assessment instrument listed in
183	183	Section 39.023(c) and requiring a student participating in the
184	184	standardminimum high school program to be administered an
185	185	end-of-course assessment instrument listed in Section 39.023(c)
186	186	only for a course in which the student is enrolled and for which an
187	187	end-of-course assessment instrument is administered. A student is
188	188	required to achieve, in each subject in the foundation curriculum
189	189	under Section 28.002(a)(1), a cumulative score that is at least
190	190	equal to the product of the number of end-of-course assessment
191	191	instruments administered to the student in that subject and 70,
192	192	with each end-of-course assessment instrument scored on a scale of
193	193	100. A student must achieve a score of at least 60 on an
194	194	end-of-course assessment instrument for the score to count towards
195	195	the student's cumulative score. For purposes of this subsection, a
196	196	student's cumulative score is determined using the student's
197	197	highest score on each end-of-course assessment instrument
198	198	administered to the student. A student may not receive a high
199	199	school diploma until the student has performed satisfactorily on
200	200	the end-of-course assessment instruments in the manner provided
201	201	under this subsection. This subsection does not require a student
202	202	to demonstrate readiness to enroll in an institution of higher
203	203	education.
204	204	SECTION 1.05. Subchapter D, Chapter 301, Labor Code, is
205	205	amended by adding Section 301.0612 to read as follows:
206	206	Sec. 301.0612. EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL
207	207	STUDENTS. (a) The commission shall provide the Texas Education
208	208	Agency with information at least each quarter regarding current and
209	209	projected employment opportunities in this state, disaggregated by
210	210	county or other appropriate region.
211	211	(b) The Texas Education Agency shall provide the
212	212	information obtained under Subsection (a) to school districts for
213	213	use in local planning and implementation of career and technical
214	214	education and training programs.
215	215	ARTICLE 2. TERMINOLOGY CHANGES
216	216	SECTION 2.01. Section 5.001(2), Education Code, is amended
217	217	to read as follows:
218	218	(2) "Classroom teacher" means an educator who is
219	219	employed by a school district and who, not less than an average of
220	220	four hours each day, teaches in an academic instructional setting
221	221	or a career and technicaltechnology instructional setting. The
222	222	term does not include a teacher's aide or a full-time
223	223	administrator.
224	224	SECTION 2.02. Section 7.109, Education Code, is amended to
225	225	read as follows:
226	226	Sec. 7.109. DESIGNATION AS STATE BOARD FOR CAREER AND
227	227	TECHNICALTECHNOLOGY EDUCATION. (a) The board is also the State
228	228	Board for Career and Technicaltechnology Education.
229	229	(b) The commissioner is the executive officer through whom
230	230	the State Board for Career and Technicaltechnology Education
231	231	shall carry out its policies and enforce its rules.
232	232	(c) The State Board for Career and Technical [Technology]
233	233	Education may contract with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating
234	234	Board or any other state agency to assume the leadership role and
235	235	administrative responsibility of the State Board for Career and
236	236	Technicaltechnology Education for state level administration of
237	237	technical-vocational education programs in public community
238	238	colleges, public technical institutes, and other eligible public
239	239	postsecondary institutions in this state.
240	240	(d) The State Board for Career and Technicaltechnology
241	241	Education may allocate funds appropriated to the board by the
242	242	legislature or federal funds received by the board under the Carl D.
243	243	Perkins Vocational Education Act (20 U.S.C. Section 2301 et seq.)
244	244	or other federal law to an institution or program approved by the
245	245	State Board of Education, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating
246	246	Board, or another state agency specified by law.
247	247	SECTION 2.03. Section 11.158(g), Education Code, is amended
248	248	to read as follows:
249	249	(g) This section does not prohibit a board of trustees from
250	250	charging reasonable fees for goods and services provided in
251	251	connection with any postsecondary instructional program, including
252	252	career and technicaltechnology, adult, veterans', or continuing
253	253	education, community service, evening school, and high school
254	254	equivalency programs.
255	255	SECTION 2.04. Section 21.055(b), Education Code, is amended
256	256	to read as follows:
257	257	(b) To be eligible for a school district teaching permit
258	258	under this section, a person must hold a baccalaureate degree. This
259	259	subsection does not apply to a person who will teach only career and
260	260	technicaltechnology education.
261	261	SECTION 2.05. Section 28.003(b), Education Code, is amended
262	262	to read as follows:
263	263	(b) In this section, "educational program" means a course or
264	264	series of courses in the required curriculum under Section 28.002,
265	265	other than a fine arts course under Section 28.002(a)(2)(D) or a
266	266	career and technicaltechnology course under Section
267	267	28.002(a)(2)(F).
268	268	SECTION 2.06. Section 29.001, Education Code, is amended to
269	269	read as follows:
270	270	Sec. 29.001. STATEWIDE PLAN. The agency shall develop, and
271	271	modify as necessary, a statewide design, consistent with federal
272	272	law, for the delivery of services to children with disabilities in
273	273	this state that includes rules for the administration and funding
274	274	of the special education program so that a free appropriate public
275	275	education is available to all of those children between the ages of
276	276	three and 21. The statewide design shall include the provision of
277	277	services primarily through school districts and shared services
278	278	arrangements, supplemented by regional education service centers.
279	279	The agency shall also develop and implement a statewide plan with
280	280	programmatic content that includes procedures designed to:
281	281	(1) ensure state compliance with requirements for
282	282	supplemental federal funding for all state-administered programs
283	283	involving the delivery of instructional or related services to
284	284	students with disabilities;
285	285	(2) facilitate interagency coordination when other
286	286	state agencies are involved in the delivery of instructional or
287	287	related services to students with disabilities;
288	288	(3) periodically assess statewide personnel needs in
289	289	all areas of specialization related to special education and pursue
290	290	strategies to meet those needs through a consortium of
291	291	representatives from regional education service centers, local
292	292	education agencies, and institutions of higher education and
293	293	through other available alternatives;
294	294	(4) ensure that regional education service centers
295	295	throughout the state maintain a regional support function, which
296	296	may include direct service delivery and a component designed to
297	297	facilitate the placement of students with disabilities who cannot
298	298	be appropriately served in their resident districts;
299	299	(5) allow the agency to effectively monitor and
300	300	periodically conduct site visits of all school districts to ensure
301	301	that rules adopted under this section are applied in a consistent
302	302	and uniform manner, to ensure that districts are complying with
303	303	those rules, and to ensure that annual statistical reports filed by
304	304	the districts and not otherwise available through the Public
305	305	Education Information Management System under Section 42.006, are
306	306	accurate and complete;
307	307	(6) ensure that appropriately trained personnel are
308	308	involved in the diagnostic and evaluative procedures operating in
309	309	all districts and that those personnel routinely serve on district
310	310	admissions, review, and dismissal committees;
311	311	(7) ensure that an individualized education program
312	312	for each student with a disability is properly developed,
313	313	implemented, and maintained in the least restrictive environment
314	314	that is appropriate to meet the student's educational needs;
315	315	(8) ensure that, when appropriate, each student with a
316	316	disability is provided an opportunity to participate in career and
317	317	technicaltechnology and physical education classes, in addition
318	318	to participating in regular or special classes;
319	319	(9) ensure that each student with a disability is
320	320	provided necessary related services; and
321	321	(10) ensure that an individual assigned to act as a
322	322	surrogate parent for a child with a disability, as provided by 20
323	323	U.S.C. Section 1415(b) [and its subsequent amendments], is required
324	324	to:
325	325	(A) complete a training program that complies
326	326	with minimum standards established by agency rule;
327	327	(B) visit the child and the child's school;
328	328	(C) consult with persons involved in the child's
329	329	education, including teachers, caseworkers, court-appointed
330	330	volunteers, guardians ad litem, attorneys ad litem, foster parents,
331	331	and caretakers;
332	332	(D) review the child's educational records;
333	333	(E) attend meetings of the child's admission,
334	334	review, and dismissal committee;
335	335	(F) exercise independent judgment in pursuing
336	336	the child's interests; and
337	337	(G) exercise the child's due process rights under
338	338	applicable state and federal law.
339	339	SECTION 2.07. The heading to Subchapter F, Chapter 29,
340	340	Education Code, is amended to read as follows: SUBCHAPTER F.
341	341	CAREER AND TECHNICALTECHNOLOGY EDUCATION PROGRAM
342	342	SECTION 2.08. The heading to Section 29.181, Education
343	343	Code, is amended to read as follows:
344	344	Sec. 29.181. PUBLIC EDUCATION CAREER AND TECHNICAL
345	345	TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION GOALS.
346	346	SECTION 2.09. Section 29.183, Education Code, is amended to
347	347	read as follows:
348	348	Sec. 29.183. CAREER AND TECHNICALTECHNOLOGY AND OTHER
349	349	EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. a) The board of trustees of a school
350	350	district may conduct and supervise career and technical
351	351	technology classes and other educational programs for students and
352	352	for other persons of all ages and spend local maintenance funds for
353	353	the cost of those classes and programs.
354	354	(b) In developing a career and technicaltechnology
355	355	program, the board of trustees shall consider the state plan for
356	356	career and technicaltechnology education required under Section
357	357	29.182.
358	358	SECTION 2.10. Section 29.184, Education Code, is amended to
359	359	read as follows:
360	360	Sec. 29.184. CONTRACTS WITH OTHER SCHOOLS FOR CAREER AND
361	361	TECHNICALTECHNOLOGY CLASSES. (a) The board of trustees of a
362	362	school district may contract with another school district or with a
363	363	public or private postsecondary educational institution or trade or
364	364	technical school that is regulated by this state, as designated in
365	365	the state plan for career and technicaltechnology education
366	366	required under Section 29.182, to provide career and technical
367	367	technology classes for students in the district.
368	368	(b) A student who attends career and technicaltechnology
369	369	classes at another school under a contract authorized by Subsection
370	370	(a) is included in the average daily attendance of the district in
371	371	which the student is regularly enrolled.
372	372	SECTION 2.11. Section 29.185, Education Code, is amended to
373	373	read as follows:
374	374	Sec. 29.185. CAREER AND TECHNICALTECHNOLOGY PROGRAM
375	375	RULES. The agency shall prescribe requirements for career and
376	376	technicaltechnology education in public schools as necessary to
377	377	comply with federal law.
378	378	SECTION 2.12. The heading to Section 29.187, Education
379	379	Code, is amended to read as follows:
380	380	Sec. 29.187. AWARD FOR DISTINGUISHED ACHIEVEMENT IN CAREER
381	381	AND TECHNICALTECHNOLOGY EDUCATION; PROGRAM.
382	382	SECTION 2.13. Sections 29.187(a) and (c), Education Code,
383	383	are amended to read as follows:
384	384	(a) In addition to the authority granted under Section
385	385	29.183, the board of trustees of a school district may develop and
386	386	offer a program that provides a rigorous course of study consistent
387	387	with the required curriculum under Section 28.002 and under which a
388	388	student may:
389	389	(1) receive specific education in a career and
390	390	technicaltechnology profession that:
391	391	(A) leads to postsecondary education; or
392	392	(B) meets or exceeds business or industry
393	393	standards; and
394	394	(2) obtain from the district an award for
395	395	distinguished achievement in career and technicaltechnology
396	396	education and a stamp or other notation on the student's transcript
397	397	that indicates receipt of the award.
398	398	(c) In developing a program under this section, the board of
399	399	trustees of a school district shall consider the state plan for
400	400	career and technicaltechnology education required under Section
401	401	29.182.
402	402	SECTION 2.14. Section 29.188, Education Code, is amended to
403	403	read as follows:
404	404	Sec. 29.188. RECOGNITION OF SUCCESSFUL CAREER AND TECHNICAL
405	405	TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION PROGRAM. The governor is encouraged to
406	406	present a proclamation or certificate to each member of the
407	407	business and industry community that the Texas Workforce
408	408	Commission, in cooperation with the agency, determines has
409	409	successfully assisted in the provision of a career and technical
410	410	technology education program under this subchapter.
411	411	SECTION 2.15. Section 29.190(a), Education Code, is amended
412	412	to read as follows:
413	413	(a) A student is entitled to a subsidy under this section if
414	414	the student:
415	415	(1) successfully completes the career and technical
416	416	technology program of a school district in which the student
417	417	receives training and instruction for employment in a certain trade
418	418	or occupation;
419	419	(2) passes a certification examination to qualify for
420	420	a license or certificate for the trade or occupation; and
421	421	(3) demonstrates financial need.
422	422	SECTION 2.16. Section 39.071(b), Education Code, is amended
423	423	to read as follows:
424	424	(b) Each year, the commissioner shall determine the
425	425	accreditation status of each school district. In determining
426	426	accreditation status, the commissioner:
427	427	(1) shall evaluate and consider the performance of the
428	428	district under:
429	429	(A) the academic accountability system under
430	430	Section 39.072; and
431	431	(B) the financial accountability rating system
432	432	under Subchapter I; and
433	433	(2) may consider:
434	434	(A) the district's compliance with statutory
435	435	requirements and requirements imposed by rule of the commissioner
436	436	or State Board of Education under specific statutory authority that
437	437	relate to:
438	438	(i) reporting data through the Public
439	439	Education Information Management System (PEIMS) or other reports
440	440	required by state or federal law or court order;
441	441	(ii) the high school graduation
442	442	requirements under Section 28.025; or
443	443	(iii) an item listed under Sections
444	444	7.056(e)(3)(C)-(I) that applies to the district;
445	445	(B) the effectiveness of the district's programs
446	446	for special populations; and
447	447	(C) the effectiveness of the district's career
448	448	and technicaltechnology program.
449	449	SECTION 2.17. Section 39.072(b), Education Code, is amended
450	450	to read as follows:
451	451	(b) The academic excellence indicators adopted under
452	452	Sections 39.051(b)(1) through (8) and the district's current
453	453	special education compliance status with the agency shall be the
454	454	main considerations of the agency in the rating of the district
455	455	under this section. Additional criteria in the rules may include
456	456	consideration of:
457	457	(1) compliance with statutory requirements and
458	458	requirements imposed by rule of the State Board of Education under
459	459	specific statutory authority that relate to:
460	460	(A) reporting data through the Public Education
461	461	Information Management System (PEIMS);
462	462	(B) the high school graduation requirements
463	463	under Section 28.025; or
464	464	(C) an item listed in Sections
465	465	7.056(e)(3)(C)-(I) that applies to the district;
466	466	(2) the effectiveness of the district's programs for
467	467	special populations; and
468	468	(3) the effectiveness of the district's career and
469	469	technicaltechnology programs.
470	470	SECTION 2.18. The heading to Section 41.125, Education
471	471	Code, is amended to read as follows:
472	472	Sec. 41.125. CAREER AND TECHNICALTECHNOLOGY EDUCATION
473	473	PROGRAMS.
474	474	SECTION 2.19. Section 41.125(a), Education Code, is amended
475	475	to read as follows:
476	476	(a) The board of trustees of a school district with a wealth
477	477	per student that exceeds the equalized wealth level may reduce the
478	478	district's wealth per student by executing an agreement to provide
479	479	students of one or more other districts with career and technical
480	480	technology education through a program designated as an area
481	481	program for career and technicaltechnology education.
482	482	SECTION 2.20. Section 42.101, Education Code, is amended to
483	483	read as follows:
484	484	Sec. 42.101. BASIC ALLOTMENT. For each student in average
485	485	daily attendance, not including the time students spend each day in
486	486	special education programs in an instructional arrangement other
487	487	than mainstream or career and technicaltechnology education
488	488	programs, for which an additional allotment is made under
489	489	Subchapter C, a district is entitled to an allotment in an amount
490	490	equal to the product of the amount per student per cent of tax
491	491	effort available to a district at the percentile in wealth per
492	492	student specified by Section 42.302(a-1)(1), multiplied by 86. A
493	493	greater amount for any school year may be provided by
494	494	appropriation.
495	495	SECTION 2.21. Section 42.154, Education Code, is amended to
496	496	read as follows:
497	497	Sec. 42.154. CAREER AND TECHNICALTECHNOLOGY EDUCATION
498	498	ALLOTMENT. (a) For each full-time equivalent student in average
499	499	daily attendance in an approved career and technicaltechnology
500	500	education program in grades nine through 12 or in career and
501	501	technicaltechnology education programs for students with
502	502	disabilities in grades seven through 12, a district is entitled to
503	503	an annual allotment equal to the adjusted basic allotment
504	504	multiplied by a weight of 1.35.
505	505	(a-1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section,
506	506	the commissioner shall develop and implement a pilot program under
507	507	which a school district is entitled to additional funding for each
508	508	student receiving career and technicaltechnology instruction in
509	509	grade eight. The commissioner shall select not more than five
510	510	school districts for participation in the pilot program. In
511	511	selecting school districts for participation, the commissioner
512	512	shall consider school districts that can provide services under the
513	513	program at the least cost. For each full-time equivalent student in
514	514	grade eight in average daily attendance in an approved career and
515	515	technicaltechnology education program, a school district
516	516	participating in the program under this subsection is entitled to
517	517	an annual allotment equal to the adjusted basic allotment
518	518	multiplied by a weight of 1.35. Funds allocated under this
519	519	subsection, other than an indirect cost allotment established under
520	520	State Board of Education rule, must be used in providing career and
521	521	technicaltechnology programs in grade eight under Sections
522	522	29.182, 29.183, and 29.184. A school district is entitled to an
523	523	allotment under this subsection for each school year through the
524	524	completion of the 2011-2012 school year. Not later than January 1,
525	525	2013, the agency shall prepare and deliver to each member of the
526	526	legislature a report describing the effectiveness of the pilot
527	527	program described by this subsection. This subsection expires
528	528	February 1, 2013.
529	529	(b) In this section, "full-time equivalent student" means
530	530	30 hours of contact a week between a student and career and
531	531	technicaltechnology education program personnel.
532	532	(c) Funds allocated under this section, other than an
533	533	indirect cost allotment established under State Board of Education
534	534	rule, must be used in providing career and technicaltechnology
535	535	education programs in grades nine through 12 or career and
536	536	technicaltechnology education programs for students with
537	537	disabilities in grades seven through 12 under Sections 29.182,
538	538	29.183, and 29.184.
539	539	(d) The commissioner shall conduct a cost-benefit
540	540	comparison between career and technicaltechnology education
541	541	programs and mathematics and science programs.
542	542	(e) Out of the total statewide allotment for career and
543	543	technicaltechnology education under this section, the
544	544	commissioner shall set aside an amount specified in the General
545	545	Appropriations Act, which may not exceed an amount equal to one
546	546	percent of the total amount appropriated, to support regional
547	547	career and technicaltechnology education planning. After
548	548	deducting the amount set aside under this subsection from the total
549	549	amount appropriated for career and technicaltechnology
550	550	education under this section, the commissioner shall reduce each
551	551	district's tier one allotments in the same manner described for a
552	552	reduction in allotments under Section 42.253.
553	553	SECTION 2.22. Section 42.155(f), Education Code, is amended
554	554	to read as follows:
555	555	(f) The cost of transporting career and technical
556	556	technology education students from one campus to another inside a
557	557	district or from a sending district to another secondary public
558	558	school for a career and technicaltechnology program or an area
559	559	career and technicaltechnology school or to an approved
560	560	post-secondary institution under a contract for instruction
561	561	approved by the agency shall be reimbursed based on the number of
562	562	actual miles traveled times the district's official
563	563	extracurricular travel per mile rate as set by the board of trustees
564	564	and approved by the agency.
565	565	SECTION 2.23. The heading to Section 45.106, Education
566	566	Code, is amended to read as follows:
567	567	Sec. 45.106. USE OF COUNTY AVAILABLE FUND APPORTIONMENT FOR
568	568	AREA SCHOOLS CAREER AND TECHNICALTECHNOLOGY EDUCATION.
569	569	SECTION 2.24. Section 45.106(a), Education Code, is amended
570	570	to read as follows:
571	571	(a) A school district or accumulation of districts that
572	572	operates a school designated as an area school for career and
573	573	technicaltechnology education purposes or that participates in a
574	574	designated area career and technicaltechnology education
575	575	program shall use its annual county available school fund
576	576	apportionment, if any, in the operation of the area school or
577	577	program or in financing facilities for the school, notwithstanding
578	578	any laws to the contrary.
579	579	SECTION 2.25. Section 62.155, Labor Code, is amended to
580	580	read as follows:
581	581	Sec. 62.155. EMPLOYMENT OF CERTAIN YOUTHS AND STUDENTS. An
582	582	employer is exempt from this chapter with respect to the employment
583	583	of a person who:
584	584	(1) is less than 18 years of age and is not a high
585	585	school graduate or a graduate of a career and technical
586	586	[vocational] training program, other than a person who is employed
587	587	in agriculture and whose pay is computed on a piece rate;
588	588	(2) is less than 20 years of age and is a student
589	589	regularly enrolled in a high school, college, university, or career
590	590	and technical [vocational] training program, other than a person
591	591	who is employed in agriculture and whose pay is computed on a piece
592	592	rate; or
593	593	(3) has a disability and who is:
594	594	(A) not more than 21 years of age;
595	595	(B) a client of vocational rehabilitation; and
596	596	(C) participating in a cooperative school-work
597	597	program.
598	598	ARTICLE 3. REPEALER; EFFECTIVE DATE
599	599	SECTION 3.01. Sections 28.025(b) and (b-2), Education Code,
600	600	are repealed.
601	601	SECTION 3.02. Not later than January 1, 2010, the State
602	602	Board of Education shall adopt rules as required by Section
603	603	28.025(b-1), Education Code, as amended by this Act. The rules
604	604	shall provide that the curriculum requirements for the recommended
605	605	and advanced high school programs adopted under that subsection
606	606	apply to a student regardless of the school year in which the
607	607	student entered the ninth grade.
608	608	SECTION 3.03. This Act takes effect immediately if it
609	609	receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each
610	610	house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.
611	611	If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate
612	612	effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2009.