Texas 2017 - 85th Regular

Texas House Bill HB1237 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	85R7946 KJE-D
2	2	By: Lucio III H.B. No. 1237
3	3
4	4
5	5	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
6	6	AN ACT
7	7	relating to the establishment of a Pathways in Technology Early
8	8	College High School (P-TECH) program and to the repeal of the
9	9	tech-prep program.
10	10	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
11	11	SECTION 1. Chapter 29, Education Code, is amended by adding
12	12	Subchapter N to read as follows:
13	13	SUBCHAPTER N. PATHWAYS IN TECHNOLOGY EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL
14	14	(P-TECH) PROGRAM
15	15	Sec. 29.551. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
16	16	(1) "Advisory council" means the P-TECH advisory
17	17	council.
18	18	(2) "Articulation agreement" means a written
19	19	commitment between school districts or open-enrollment charter
20	20	schools and institutions of higher education to a program designed
21	21	to provide students with a nonduplicative sequence of progressive
22	22	achievement leading to degrees or certificates in a work-based
23	23	education program.
24	24	(3) "Institution of higher education" has the meaning
25	25	assigned by Section 61.003.
26	26	(4) "P-TECH program" means the Pathways in Technology
27	27	Early College High School program established under this
28	28	subchapter.
29	29	Sec. 29.552. P-TECH ADVISORY COUNCIL. (a) The advisory
30	30	council is composed of:
31	31	(1) three members representing school districts and
32	32	open-enrollment charter schools appointed as follows:
33	33	(A) one member appointed by the governor;
34	34	(B) one member appointed by the lieutenant
35	35	governor; and
36	36	(C) one member appointed by the speaker of the
37	37	house of representatives;
38	38	(2) three members representing institutions of higher
39	39	education appointed as follows:
40	40	(A) one member appointed by the governor;
41	41	(B) one member appointed by the lieutenant
42	42	governor; and
43	43	(C) one member appointed by the speaker of the
44	44	house of representatives; and
45	45	(3) five members representing industry or business
46	46	partners that participate or seek to participate in the P-TECH
47	47	program appointed as follows:
48	48	(A) one member appointed by the governor;
49	49	(B) two members appointed by the lieutenant
50	50	governor; and
51	51	(C) two members appointed by the speaker of the
52	52	house of representatives.
53	53	(b) A member of the advisory council serves at the will of
54	54	the member's appointing authority.
55	55	(c) The advisory council shall provide recommendations to
56	56	the commissioner regarding:
57	57	(1) the establishment and administration of the P-TECH
58	58	program; and
59	59	(2) the criteria for a campus's designation as a P-TECH
60	60	school under Section 29.556.
61	61	(d) A member of the advisory council may not receive
62	62	compensation for service on the advisory council but, subject to
63	63	the availability of funding, may receive reimbursement for actual
64	64	and necessary expenses, including travel expenses, incurred in
65	65	performing advisory council duties. The advisory council may
66	66	solicit and accept gifts, grants, and donations to pay for those
67	67	expenses.
68	68	(e) Chapter 2110, Government Code, does not apply to the
69	69	advisory council.
70	70	Sec. 29.553. P-TECH PROGRAM. (a) The commissioner shall
71	71	establish and administer a Pathways in Technology Early College
72	72	High School (P-TECH) program for students who wish to participate
73	73	in a work-based education program.
74	74	(b) The P-TECH program must:
75	75	(1) be open enrollment;
76	76	(2) provide for a course of study that enables a
77	77	participating student in grade levels 9 through 12 to combine high
78	78	school courses and postsecondary courses;
79	79	(3) allow a participating student to complete high
80	80	school and, on or before the sixth anniversary of the date of the
81	81	student's first day of high school:
82	82	(A) receive a high school diploma and an
83	83	associate degree, a two-year postsecondary certificate, or
84	84	industry certification; and
85	85	(B) complete work-based training through an
86	86	internship, apprenticeship, or other job training program;
87	87	(4) include:
88	88	(A) articulation agreements with institutions of
89	89	higher education in this state to provide a participating student
90	90	access to postsecondary educational and training opportunities at
91	91	an institution of higher education; and
92	92	(B) memoranda of understanding with regional
93	93	industry or business partners in this state to provide a
94	94	participating student access to work-based training and education;
95	95	and
96	96	(5) provide a participating student flexibility in
97	97	class scheduling and academic mentoring.
98	98	(c) Each articulation agreement under Subsection (b)(4)(A)
99	99	must address:
100	100	(1) curriculum alignment;
101	101	(2) instructional materials;
102	102	(3) the instructional calendar;
103	103	(4) courses of study;
104	104	(5) student enrollment and attendance;
105	105	(6) grading periods and policies; and
106	106	(7) administration of statewide assessment
107	107	instruments under Subchapter B, Chapter 39.
108	108	(d) Each memorandum of understanding under Subsection
109	109	(b)(4)(B) must include an agreement that the regional industry or
110	110	business partner will give to a student who receives work-based
111	111	training or education from the partner under the P-TECH program
112	112	first priority in interviewing for any jobs for which the student is
113	113	qualified that are available on the student's completion of the
114	114	program.
115	115	(e) A student participating in the P-TECH program is
116	116	entitled to the benefits of the Foundation School Program in
117	117	proportion to the amount of time spent by the student on high school
118	118	courses, in accordance with rules adopted by the commissioner,
119	119	while completing the course of study established by the applicable
120	120	articulation agreement or memorandum of understanding under
121	121	Subsection (b)(4).
122	122	(f) The commissioner may accept gifts, grants, and
123	123	donations from any source, including private and nonprofit
124	124	organizations, for the P-TECH program. A private or nonprofit
125	125	organization that contributes to the program may receive an award
126	126	under Section 7.113.
127	127	(g) The commissioner shall collaborate with the Texas
128	128	Workforce Commission and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating
129	129	Board to develop and implement a plan for the P-TECH program that
130	130	addresses:
131	131	(1) regional workforce needs;
132	132	(2) credit transfer policies between institutions of
133	133	higher education; and
134	134	(3) internships, apprenticeships, and other
135	135	work-based education programs.
136	136	Sec. 29.554. HEALTH BENEFIT PLAN, LIABILITY, AND AUTOMOBILE
137	137	INSURANCE COVERAGE. (a) The board of trustees of a school district
138	138	or the governing body of an open-enrollment charter school may
139	139	obtain health benefit plan, liability, or automobile insurance
140	140	coverage to protect:
141	141	(1) a business or entity that partners with the
142	142	district or school under Section 29.553 to provide students with
143	143	work-based training and education under the P-TECH program; and
144	144	(2) a student enrolled in the district or at the school
145	145	who participates in the district's or school's P-TECH program.
146	146	(b) The coverage authorized by this section must be:
147	147	(1) obtained from a reliable insurer authorized to
148	148	engage in business in this state; or
149	149	(2) provided through a self-funded risk pool.
150	150	(c) The amount of coverage the school district or
151	151	open-enrollment charter school obtains must be reasonable
152	152	considering the financial condition of the district or school and
153	153	may not exceed the amount that, in the opinion of the board of
154	154	trustees or governing body, is reasonably necessary.
155	155	(d) If the board of trustees of a school district or
156	156	governing body of an open-enrollment charter school obtains health
157	157	benefit plan, liability, or automobile insurance coverage under
158	158	this section, the board or governing body shall notify the parent or
159	159	guardian of each student participating in the P-TECH program.
160	160	(e) The failure of any board of trustees of a school
161	161	district or governing body of an open-enrollment charter school to
162	162	obtain coverage authorized by this section may not be construed as
163	163	placing any legal liability on the district or school or the
164	164	district's or school's officers, agents, or employees for any
165	165	injury that results.
166	166	Sec. 29.555. IMMUNITY FROM LIABILITY. A student who
167	167	participates in the P-TECH program while enrolled in a school
168	168	district or at an open-enrollment charter school is entitled to
169	169	immunity in the same manner as a professional employee of a school
170	170	district under Subchapter B, Chapter 22, or as an employee of an
171	171	open-enrollment charter school under Section 12.1056, as
172	172	applicable.
173	173	Sec. 29.556. P-TECH SCHOOL DESIGNATION AND GRANT PROGRAM.
174	174	(a) A school district or open-enrollment charter school that
175	175	implements or seeks to implement the P-TECH program at a campus may
176	176	apply to the commissioner for designation of the campus as a P-TECH
177	177	school in accordance with procedures established by the
178	178	commissioner.
179	179	(b) From funds appropriated for that purpose, the
180	180	commissioner by rule shall establish a grant program to assist
181	181	school districts and open-enrollment charter schools in
182	182	implementing the P-TECH program at a campus designated as a P-TECH
183	183	school under Subsection (a). The commissioner may use not more than
184	184	three percent of the funds appropriated for the grant program to
185	185	cover the cost of administering the grant program and to provide
186	186	technical assistance and support to P-TECH schools.
187	187	(c) The commissioner shall establish the criteria for a
188	188	campus's designation as a P-TECH school and for participation in
189	189	the grant program under this section. The criteria must require a
190	190	school district or open-enrollment charter school to:
191	191	(1) enter into an articulation agreement under Section
192	192	29.553 only with institutions of higher education that are
193	193	accredited by a national or regional accrediting agency recognized
194	194	by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board;
195	195	(2) review and, as necessary, update each memorandum
196	196	of understanding with a regional industry or business partner under
197	197	Section 29.553 at least once every two years; and
198	198	(3) explain how the district's or school's P-TECH
199	199	program will address regional workforce needs.
200	200	Sec. 29.557. RULES. (a) The commissioner shall adopt rules
201	201	as necessary to administer the P-TECH program, including rules to
202	202	ensure a student participating in the program is not considered for
203	203	accountability purposes to have dropped out of high school or
204	204	failed to complete the curriculum requirements for high school
205	205	graduation until after the sixth anniversary of the date of the
206	206	student's first day in high school. The rules may provide for
207	207	giving preference in receiving program benefits to a student who is
208	208	in the first generation of the student's family to attend college
209	209	and may establish other distinctions or criteria based on student
210	210	need.
211	211	(b) The commissioner shall consult the Texas Higher
212	212	Education Coordinating Board in administering the program. The
213	213	Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board may adopt rules as
214	214	necessary to exercise its powers and duties under this subchapter.
215	215	SECTION 2. Section 28.009(d)(2), Education Code, is amended
216	216	to read as follows:
217	217	(2) "Sequence of courses" means career and technical
218	218	education courses approved by the State Board of Education or [,]
219	219	innovative courses approved by the State Board of Education that
220	220	are provided for local credit[, or a tech-prep program of study
221	221	under Section 61.852].
222	222	SECTION 3. Section 39.301(c), Education Code, is amended to
223	223	read as follows:
224	224	(c) Indicators for reporting purposes must include:
225	225	(1) the percentage of graduating students who meet the
226	226	course requirements established by State Board of Education rule
227	227	for:
228	228	(A) the foundation high school program;
229	229	(B) the distinguished level of achievement under
230	230	the foundation high school program; and
231	231	(C) each endorsement described by Section
232	232	28.025(c-1);
233	233	(2) the results of the SAT, ACT, [articulated
234	234	postsecondary degree programs described by Section 61.852,] and
235	235	certified workforce training programs described by Chapter 311,
236	236	Labor Code;
237	237	(3) for students who have failed to perform
238	238	satisfactorily, under each performance standard under Section
239	239	39.0241, on an assessment instrument required under Section
240	240	39.023(a) or (c), the performance of those students on subsequent
241	241	assessment instruments required under those sections, aggregated
242	242	by grade level and subject area;
243	243	(4) for each campus, the number of students,
244	244	disaggregated by major student subpopulations, that take courses
245	245	under the foundation high school program and take additional
246	246	courses to earn an endorsement under Section 28.025(c-1),
247	247	disaggregated by type of endorsement;
248	248	(5) the percentage of students, aggregated by grade
249	249	level, provided accelerated instruction under Section 28.0211(c),
250	250	the results of assessment instruments administered under that
251	251	section, the percentage of students promoted through the grade
252	252	placement committee process under Section 28.0211, the subject of
253	253	the assessment instrument on which each student failed to perform
254	254	satisfactorily under each performance standard under Section
255	255	39.0241, and the performance of those students in the school year
256	256	following that promotion on the assessment instruments required
257	257	under Section 39.023;
258	258	(6) the percentage of students of limited English
259	259	proficiency exempted from the administration of an assessment
260	260	instrument under Sections 39.027(a)(1) and (2);
261	261	(7) the percentage of students in a special education
262	262	program under Subchapter A, Chapter 29, assessed through assessment
263	263	instruments developed or adopted under Section 39.023(b);
264	264	(8) the percentage of students who satisfy the college
265	265	readiness measure;
266	266	(9) the measure of progress toward dual language
267	267	proficiency under Section 39.034(b), for students of limited
268	268	English proficiency, as defined by Section 29.052;
269	269	(10) the percentage of students who are not
270	270	educationally disadvantaged;
271	271	(11) the percentage of students who enroll and begin
272	272	instruction at an institution of higher education in the school
273	273	year following high school graduation; and
274	274	(12) the percentage of students who successfully
275	275	complete the first year of instruction at an institution of higher
276	276	education without needing a developmental education course.
277	277	SECTION 4. Section 42.154(a), Education Code, is amended to
278	278	read as follows:
279	279	(a) For each full-time equivalent student in average daily
280	280	attendance in an approved career and technology education program
281	281	in grades nine through 12 or in career and technology education
282	282	programs for students with disabilities in grades seven through 12,
283	283	a district is entitled to:
284	284	(1) an annual allotment equal to the adjusted basic
285	285	allotment multiplied by a weight of 1.35; and
286	286	(2) $50, if the student is enrolled in[:
287	287	[(A)] two or more advanced career and technology
288	288	education classes for a total of three or more credits[; or
289	289	[(B) an advanced course as part of a tech-prep
290	290	program under Subchapter T, Chapter 61].
291	291	SECTION 5. The following provisions of the Education Code
292	292	are repealed:
293	293	(1) Section 29.185(b); and
294	294	(2) Subchapter T, Chapter 61.
295	295	SECTION 6. This Act applies beginning with the 2018-2019
296	296	school year.
297	297	SECTION 7. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.