87R9344 MLH-D
By: Guerra H.B. No. 3575
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to personal financial literacy and career skills courses
for high school students in public schools.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 8.051(d), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(d) Each regional education service center shall maintain
core services for purchase by school districts and campuses. The
core services are:
(1) training and assistance in:
(A) teaching each subject area assessed under
Section 39.023; and
(B) providing instruction in personal financial
literacy and career skills as required under Section 28.0021;
(2) training and assistance in providing a gifted and
talented program and each program that qualifies for a funding
allotment under Section 48.102, 48.104, or 48.105;
(3) assistance specifically designed for a school
district or campus assigned an unacceptable performance rating
under Section 39.054;
(4) training and assistance to teachers,
administrators, members of district boards of trustees, and members
of site-based decision-making committees;
(5) assistance specifically designed for a school
district that is considered out of compliance with state or federal
special education requirements, based on the agency's most recent
compliance review of the district's special education programs; and
(6) assistance in complying with state laws and rules.
SECTION 2. The heading to Section 28.0021, Education Code,
is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 28.0021. PERSONAL FINANCIAL LITERACY AND CAREER
SKILLS.
SECTION 3. Section 28.0021, Education Code, is amended by
amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (c) to read as
follows:
(b) Each school district and each open-enrollment charter
school that offers a high school program shall provide a [an
elective] course in personal financial literacy and career skills
that meets the requirements for [a one-half elective] credit under
Section 28.025, using materials approved by the State Board of
Education. The course may be offered as a distinct course in
personal financial literacy and career skills or as an elective
course or existing course that includes instruction in personal
financial literacy and career skills sufficient to meet the
requirements for one-half credit under Section 28.025(b-1)(9). The
instruction in personal financial literacy and career skills must
include instruction on:
(1) completing the application for federal student aid
provided by the United States Department of Education;
(2) the financial consequences of failing to make
timely student loan payments;
(3) the effect of student loan debt on a person's
finances;
(4) the circumstances in which student loans are
dischargeable in bankruptcy;
(5) completing and filing an income tax return;
(6) managing a credit score;
(7) managing and paying down a mortgage;
(8) creating a resume; and
(9) preparing for a job interview.
(c) In fulfilling the requirement to provide financial
literacy and career skills instruction under this section, a school
district or open-enrollment charter school may use an existing
state, federal, private, or nonprofit program that provides
students without charge the instruction described under this
section.
SECTION 4. Section 28.0024(a), Education Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(a) A school district or open-enrollment charter school may
establish a school-based savings program to facilitate increased
awareness of the importance of saving for higher education and
facilitate personal financial literacy and career skills
instruction. A district or school may offer the program in
conjunction with a personal financial literacy and career skills
course under Section 28.0021.
SECTION 5. Section 28.025(b-1), Education Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(b-1) The State Board of Education by rule shall require
that the curriculum requirements for the foundation high school
program under Subsection (a) include a requirement that students
successfully complete:
(1) four credits in English language arts under
Section 28.002(a)(1)(A), including one credit in English I, one
credit in English II, one credit in English III, and one credit in
an advanced English course authorized under Subsection (b-2);
(2) three credits in mathematics under Section
28.002(a)(1)(B), including one credit in Algebra I, one credit in
geometry, and one credit in any advanced mathematics course
authorized under Subsection (b-2);
(3) three credits in science under Section
28.002(a)(1)(C), including one credit in biology, one credit in any
advanced science course authorized under Subsection (b-2), and one
credit in integrated physics and chemistry or in an additional
advanced science course authorized under Subsection (b-2);
(4) three credits in social studies under Section
28.002(a)(1)(D), including one credit in United States history, at
least one-half credit in government and at least one-half credit in
economics, and one credit in world geography or world history;
(5) except as provided under Subsections (b-12),
(b-13), and (b-14), two credits in the same language in a language
other than English under Section 28.002(a)(2)(A);
(6) four and one-half [five] elective credits;
(7) one credit in fine arts under Section
28.002(a)(2)(D); [and]
(8) except as provided by Subsection (b-11), one
credit in physical education under Section 28.002(a)(2)(C); and
(9) at least one-half credit in personal financial
literacy and career skills under Section 28.0021.
SECTION 6. Section 29.917(a), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a) From funds appropriated for the purpose, the
commissioner may award grants to organizations that provide
volunteers to teach classroom or after-school programs to enhance:
(1) college readiness;
(2) workforce readiness;
(3) dropout prevention; or
(4) personal financial literacy and career skills.
SECTION 7. Section 28.025(b-1), Education Code, as amended
by this Act, applies only to students entering the ninth grade
during the 2021-2022 school year or a later school year. For
students entering a grade above ninth grade during the 2021-2022
school year, Section 28.025(b-1), Education Code, as that section
existed before amendment by this Act, applies, and that section is
continued in effect for that purpose.
SECTION 8. 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, 2021.