By: Bell, Krause (Senate Sponsor - Kolkhorst) H.B. No. 181
(In the Senate - Received from the House April 13, 2015;
April 30, 2015, read first time and referred to Committee on
Education; May 7, 2015, reported favorably by the following vote:
Yeas 10, Nays 0; May 7, 2015, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to information printed by school districts on high school
diplomas.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Sections 28.025(c-1), (c-5), and (e-1),
Education Code, are amended to read as follows:
(c-1) A student may earn an endorsement on the student's
[diploma and] 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, 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, 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.
(c-5) A student may earn a performance acknowledgment on the
student's [diploma and] transcript by satisfying the requirements
for that acknowledgment adopted by the State Board of Education by
rule. An acknowledgment under this subsection may be earned:
(1) for outstanding performance:
(A) in a dual credit course;
(B) in bilingualism and biliteracy;
(C) on a college advanced placement test or
international baccalaureate examination; or
(D) on the PSAT, the ACT-Plan, the SAT, or the
ACT; or
(2) for earning a nationally or internationally
recognized business or industry certification or license.
(e-1) A school district shall clearly indicate a
distinguished level of achievement under the foundation high school
program as described by Subsection (b-15), an endorsement described
by Subsection (c-1), and a performance acknowledgment described by
Subsection (c-5) on the [diploma and] transcript of a student who
satisfies the applicable requirements. The State Board of Education
shall adopt rules as necessary to administer this subsection.
SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with a high school
diploma issued at the end of the 2014-2015 school year.
SECTION 3. 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.
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