By: Duncan S.B. No. 1410
(Patrick)
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to reporting student enrollment in tech-prep programs and
evaluating tech-prep consortia.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 29.185, Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 29.185. CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS AND
PROCEDURES [RULES]. (a) The agency shall prescribe requirements
for career and technology education in public schools as necessary
to comply with federal law.
(b) The agency shall establish procedures for each school
district and open-enrollment charter school to:
(1) accurately identify students who are enrolled in a
tech-prep program as described by Section 61.852; and
(2) report the accurate number of tech-prep program
students to the agency and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating
Board.
SECTION 2. Section 61.858, Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 61.858. TECH-PREP CONSORTIUM [STATEWIDE] EVALUATION.
(a) The [In coordination with tech-prep consortia, including the
governing board of each tech-prep consortium, the] board shall
develop and implement a statewide system to evaluate each tech-prep
consortium. The evaluation must include:
(1) an assessment of the consortium's performance
during the past year in comparison to the goals and objectives
stated in the five-year plan contained in the consortium's grant
application to the board under Section 61.856;
(2) an identification of any concerns the board has
regarding the consortium's performance; and
(3) recommendations for improvement by the consortium
in the next year [based on the success of the consortium's tech-prep
program and other appropriate criteria. The evaluation system must
include standards that a tech-prep consortium, including the
consortium's governing board, is expected to meet in administering
the consortium's duties under this subchapter].
(b) The [Using the criteria developed under Subsection (a),
the] board shall evaluate each tech-prep consortium annually
[biennially]. At least once every four years, or more frequently as
provided by board rule, the annual evaluation shall be conducted
on-site.
(c) Not later than November [October] 1 of each
[even-numbered] year, the board shall provide a written report to
each tech-prep consortium with the results of the evaluation. The
report must:
(1) contain the findings, concerns, and
recommendations resulting from the evaluation required under
Subsections (a) and (b);
(2) communicate to the consortium the results of the
board's evaluation, specifically including the elements required
by Subsection (a);
(3) [discuss any failure of the tech-prep consortium
to meet a standard established under Subsection (a) during the
reporting period, recognize the achievements of the consortium,
including the consortium's meeting of standards during the
reporting period,] identify areas in which the consortium has made
improvement or should take steps to improve its performance;[,] and
(4) identify best practices of tech-prep consortia.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.