84R10940 KJE-D
By: Gonzales H.B. No. 3278
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to measures to support public school student academic
achievement and career preparation, including measures to improve
and support dual-credit courses.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. 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 hours in which a student may enroll while in high school
or limit the number of dual credit courses or hours in which a
student may enroll each semester or academic year.
SECTION 2. 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 grades seven and 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 provide the instruction as a part
of any existing course or may establish a new course through which
to provide the instruction.
SECTION 3. 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; or
(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.
(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 4. 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 5. Section 28.016, Education Code, as added by this
Act, applies beginning with the 2015-2016 school year.
SECTION 6. 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.