H.B. No. 18
AN ACT
relating to measures to support public school student academic
achievement and high school, college, and career preparation.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Sections 7.0561(b), (c), (d), and (j), Education
Code, are amended to read as follows:
(b) The Texas High Performance Schools Consortium is
established to inform the governor, legislature, State Board of
Education, and commissioner concerning methods for transforming
public schools in this state by improving student learning through
the development of innovative, next-generation learning standards
and assessment and accountability systems, including standards and
systems relating to career and college readiness.
(c) From among school districts and eligible
open-enrollment charter schools that apply using the form and in
the time and manner established by commissioner rule, the
commissioner may select not more than 30 [20] participants for the
consortium. The districts selected by the commissioner must
represent a range of district types, sizes, and diverse student
populations, as determined by the commissioner in accordance with
commissioner rule. To be eligible to participate in the
consortium, an open-enrollment charter school must have been
awarded a [an exemplary] distinction designation under Subchapter
G, Chapter 39, during the preceding school year.
(d) The number of students enrolled in consortium
participants may not be greater than a number equal to 10 [five]
percent of the total number of students enrolled in public schools
in this state according to the most recent agency data.
(j) The [With the assistance of the] school districts and
open-enrollment charter schools participating in the consortium[,
the commissioner] shall submit reports concerning the performance
and progress of the consortium to the governor, [and] the
legislature, the State Board of Education, and the commissioner not
later than December 1 of each even-numbered year[, 2012, and not
later than December 1, 2014]. [The report submitted not later than
December 1, 2012, must include any recommendation by the
commissioner concerning legislative authorization for the
commissioner to waive a prohibition, requirement, or restriction
that applies to a consortium participant. That report must also
include a plan for an effective and efficient accountability system
for consortium participants that balances academic excellence and
local values to inspire learning and, at the state level,
contingent on any necessary waiver of federal law, may incorporate
use of a stratified random sampling of students or other objective
methodology to hold consortium participants accountable while
attempting to reduce the number of state assessment instruments
that are required to be administered to students. The commissioner
shall seek a federal waiver, to any extent necessary, to prepare for
implementation of the plan if enacted by the legislature. This
subsection expires January 1, 2018.]
SECTION 2. Section 28.009(b), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(b) The agency shall coordinate with the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board as necessary in administering this
section. The commissioner may adopt rules as necessary concerning
the duties under this section of a school district. The Texas
Higher Education Coordinating Board may adopt rules as necessary
concerning the duties under this section of a public institution of
higher education. A rule may not limit the number of dual credit
courses or semester credit hours in which a student may enroll while
in high school or limit the number of dual credit courses or
semester credit hours in which a student may enroll each semester or
academic year.
SECTION 3. (a) Subchapter A, Chapter 28, Education Code,
is amended by adding Section 28.015 to read as follows:
Sec. 28.015. PUBLIC OUTREACH MATERIALS TO PROMOTE
CURRICULUM CHANGE AWARENESS. (a) The agency shall develop uniform
public outreach materials that explain the importance and outline
the details of public school curriculum changes under Chapter 211
(H.B. 5), Acts of the 83rd Legislature, Regular Session, 2013, and
subsequent associated decisions by the State Board of Education.
The agency shall make the materials available to school districts.
(b) The materials developed under this section must:
(1) be available in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese;
(2) be in a form that would allow school districts to
mail the information to students and parents; and
(3) include an explanation of:
(A) the basic career and college readiness
components of each endorsement under Section 28.025(c-1);
(B) the curriculum requirements to gain
automatic college admission under Section 51.803; and
(C) applicable course, graduation plan, and
endorsement requirements for financial aid authorized under Title
3, including curriculum requirements for:
(i) the TEXAS grant as provided under
Subchapter M, Chapter 56;
(ii) the Texas Educational Opportunity
Grant Program as provided under Subchapter P, Chapter 56; and
(iii) the Texas B-On-time loan program as
provided under Subchapter Q, Chapter 56.
(c) This section expires September 1, 2018.
(b) The Texas Education Agency shall develop the materials
described under Section 28.015, Education Code, as added by this
section, no later than December 1, 2015.
SECTION 4. Subchapter A, Chapter 28, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 28.016 to read as follows:
Sec. 28.016. INSTRUCTION IN HIGH SCHOOL, COLLEGE, AND
CAREER PREPARATION. (a) Each school district shall provide
instruction to students in grade seven or eight in preparing for
high school, college, and a career.
(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; and
(5) potential career choices and the education needed
to enter those careers.
(c) A school district may:
(1) provide the instruction as part of an existing
course in the required curriculum;
(2) provide the instruction as part of an existing
career and technology course designated by the State Board of
Education as appropriate for that purpose; or
(3) establish a new elective course through which to
provide the instruction.
(d) Each school district shall ensure that at least once in
grade seven or eight each student receives the instruction under
this section.
SECTION 5. Subchapter A, Chapter 33, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 33.009 to read as follows:
Sec. 33.009. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION AND CAREER COUNSELING
ACADEMIES. (a) In this section, "center" means the Center for
Teaching and Learning at The University of Texas at Austin.
(b) The center shall develop and make available
postsecondary education and career counseling academies for school
counselors and other postsecondary advisors employed by a school
district at a middle school, junior high school, or high school.
(c) In developing academies under this section, the center
shall solicit input from the agency, school counselors, the Texas
Workforce Commission, institutions of higher education, and
business, community, and school leaders.
(d) An academy developed under this section must provide
counselors and other postsecondary advisors with knowledge and
skills to provide counseling to students regarding postsecondary
success and productive career planning and must include information
relating to:
(1) each endorsement described by Section
28.025(c-1), including:
(A) the course requirements for each
endorsement; and
(B) the postsecondary educational and career
opportunities associated with each endorsement;
(2) available methods for a student to earn credit for
a course not offered at the school in which the student is enrolled,
including enrollment in an electronic course provided through the
state virtual school network under Chapter 30A;
(3) general academic performance requirements for
admission to an institution of higher education, including the
requirements for automatic admission to a general academic teaching
institution under Section 51.803;
(4) regional workforce needs, including information
about the required education and the average wage or salary for
careers that meet those workforce needs; and
(5) effective strategies for engaging students and
parents in planning for postsecondary education and potential
careers, including participation in mentorships and business
partnerships.
(e) The center shall develop an online instructional
program that school districts may use in providing the instruction
in high school, college, and career preparation required by Section
28.016. The program must be structured for use as part of an
existing course.
(f) The center may access the P-20/Workforce Data
Repository established under Section 1.005(j-1) in developing
training, instructional programs, and technological tools under
this section and conducting related evaluations. The center may be
provided access to the data repository through collaboration with
the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board or a center for
education research established under Section 1.005. The agency and
the coordinating board may not condition the center's access to the
data repository on agency or board review of the proposed training,
instructional programs, technological tools, or related
evaluations developed by the center.
(g) A teacher of a course described by Section 28.016(c)(2)
or (3) may attend an academy developed under this section.
(h) From funds appropriated for that purpose, a school
counselor who attends the academy under this section is entitled to
receive a stipend in the amount determined by the center. If funds
are available after all eligible school counselors have received a
stipend under this subsection, the center shall pay a stipend in the
amount determined by the center to a teacher who attends the academy
under this section. A stipend received under this subsection is not
considered in determining whether a district is paying the school
counselor or teacher the minimum monthly salary under Section
21.402.
(i) From available funds appropriated for purposes of this
section, the center may provide to school counselors and other
educators curricula, instructional materials, and technological
tools relating to postsecondary education and career counseling.
(j) The center shall comply with any applicable provision of
the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (20 U.S.C.
Section 1232g) in performing its duties or exercising its authority
under this section.
SECTION 6. (a) Section 51.3062, Education Code, is amended
by adding Subsection (u) to read as follows:
(u) An institution of higher education that administers an
assessment instrument to students under this section shall report
to each school district from which assessed students graduated high
school all available information regarding student scores and
performance on the assessment instrument and student demographics.
The board shall adopt rules as necessary to implement this
subsection, including rules for implementing this subsection in a
manner that complies with federal law regarding confidentiality of
student medical or educational information, including the Health
Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (42 U.S.C.
Section 1320d et seq.) and the Family Educational Rights and
Privacy Act of 1974 (20 U.S.C. Section 1232g), and any state law
relating to the privacy of student information.
(b) Section 51.3062(u), Education Code, as added by this
section, applies beginning with assessment instruments
administered by public institutions of higher education to entering
undergraduate students for the 2016 fall semester.
SECTION 7. Section 130.008, Education Code, is amended by
adding Subsections (g) and (h) to read as follows:
(g) A course offered for joint high school and junior
college credit under this section must be taught by a qualified
instructor approved or selected by the public junior college. For
purposes of this subsection, an instructor is qualified if the
instructor holds:
(1) a doctoral or master's degree in the discipline
that is the subject of the course;
(2) a master's degree in another discipline with a
concentration that required completion of a minimum of 18 graduate
semester hours in the discipline that is the subject of the course;
or
(3) for a course that is offered in an associate degree
program and that is not designed for transfer to a baccalaureate
degree program:
(A) a degree described by Subdivision (1) or (2);
(B) a baccalaureate degree in the discipline that
is the subject of the course; or
(C) an associate degree and demonstrated
competencies in the discipline that is the subject of the course, as
determined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
(h) Not later than the 60th day after receipt, a public
junior college shall approve or reject an application for approval
to teach a course at a high school that is submitted by an
instructor employed by the school district, organization, or other
person that operates the high school with which the junior college
entered into an agreement under this section to offer the course.
SECTION 8. Section 303.003(b-2), Labor Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(b-2) In addition to the purposes described by Subsections
(b) and (b-1), in each state fiscal biennium, an amount of money
from the skills development fund not to exceed five percent of the
amount of general revenue appropriated to the skills development
fund for that biennium may be used as provided by this subsection.
Funds available to the commission from other sources may also be
used as provided by this subsection. Funds may be awarded under
this subsection to a lower-division institution of higher education
to be used under an agreement with a school district, or to a school
district to be used under an agreement with a lower-division
institution of higher education, to support courses offered for
joint high school and college-level credit or offered under a
college credit career or technical education program that leads to
an industry-recognized license, credential, or certificate.
Appropriate uses of funds awarded under this subsection include
purchasing or repairing necessary equipment for a course and
developing a course curriculum. A course or program supported
under this subsection must:
(1) have the endorsement of, or a letter of support
from, at least one employer in this state; and
(2) be targeted to address the needs of high-demand
fields or occupations, as identified by the applicable local
workforce development board.
SECTION 9. Section 28.016, Education Code, as added by this
Act, applies beginning with the 2015-2016 school year.
SECTION 10. 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, 2015.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 18 was passed by the House on May 12,
2015, by the following vote: Yeas 136, Nays 9, 2 present, not
voting; that the House refused to concur in Senate amendments to
H.B. No. 18 on May 29, 2015, and requested the appointment of a
conference committee to consider the differences between the two
houses; and that the House adopted the conference committee report
on H.B. No. 18 on May 31, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 135,
Nays 8, 2 present, not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 18 was passed by the Senate, with
amendments, on May 27, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays
1; at the request of the House, the Senate appointed a conference
committee to consider the differences between the two houses; and
that the Senate adopted the conference committee report on H.B. No.
18 on May 31, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 1.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: __________________
Date
__________________
Governor