H.B. No. 2201
AN ACT
relating to increasing the courses offered in the career and
technology education curriculum.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 28, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 28.00222 to read as follows:
Sec. 28.00222. INCREASE IN ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY AND
CAREER-RELATED COURSES. (a) Not later than September 1, 2014, the
State Board of Education shall ensure that at least six advanced
career and technology education or technology applications
courses, including a course in personal financial literacy that is
consistent with Section 28.0021, are approved to satisfy a fourth
credit in mathematics required for high school graduation.
(b) Not later than January 1, 2015, the commissioner shall
review and report to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the
speaker of the house of representatives, and the presiding officer
of each standing committee of the legislature with primary
responsibility over public primary and secondary education
regarding the progress of increasing the number of courses approved
for the career and technology education or technology applications
curriculum. The commissioner shall include in the report a
detailed description of any new courses, including instructional
materials and required equipment, if any.
(c) This section expires September 1, 2015.
SECTION 2.
Section 28.025(b-2), Education Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(b-2) In adopting rules under Subsection (b-1), the State
Board of Education shall allow a student to comply with the
curriculum requirements for the third and fourth [a] mathematics
credits [course] under Subsection (b-1)(1) [taken after the
successful completion of Algebra I and geometry and either after
the successful completion of or concurrently with Algebra II] or
the third and fourth [a] science credits [course] under Subsection
(b-1)(1) [taken after the successful completion of biology and
chemistry and either after the successful completion of or
concurrently with physics] by successfully completing an advanced
career and technical course designated by the State Board of
Education as containing substantively similar and rigorous
academic content. [A student may use the option provided by this
subsection for not more than two courses.]
SECTION 3. Section 28.027(b), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(b) The State Board of Education shall establish a process
under which an applied STEM course may be reviewed and approved for
purposes of satisfying the mathematics and science curriculum
requirements for the recommended high school program imposed under
Section 28.025(b-1)(1)(A) through substitution of the applied STEM
course for a specific mathematics or science course otherwise
required under the recommended high school program [and completed
during the student's fourth year of mathematics or science course
work]. The State Board of Education may only approve a course to
substitute for a mathematics course taken after successful
completion of Algebra I and geometry [and after successful
completion of or concurrently with Algebra II]. The State Board of
Education may only approve a course to substitute for a science
course taken after successful completion of biology [and chemistry
and after successful completion of or concurrently with physics].
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 2201 was passed by the House on May 9,
2013, by the following vote: Yeas 144, Nays 0, 2 present, not
voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
No. 2201 on May 23, 2013, by the following vote: Yeas 146, Nays 0,
2 present, not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 2201 was passed by the Senate, with
amendments, on May 21, 2013, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays
0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: __________________
Date
__________________
Governor