87R11349 CXP-F
By: Blanco S.B. No. 1702
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to course requirements for public high school students and
a requirement to collect and report information regarding
endorsements earned by public school students.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 28.002(c), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(c) The State Board of Education, with the direct
participation of educators, parents, business and industry
representatives, and employers shall by rule identify the essential
knowledge and skills of each subject of the required curriculum
that all students should be able to demonstrate and that will be
used in evaluating instructional materials under Chapter 31 and
addressed on the assessment instruments required under Subchapter
B, Chapter 39. As a condition of accreditation, the board shall
require each district to provide instruction in the essential
knowledge and skills at appropriate grade levels and to require
[make available to] each high school student in the district to
complete an Algebra II course.
SECTION 2. Sections 28.025(b), (b-1), and (b-2), Education
Code, are amended to read as follows:
(b) A school district shall ensure that each student, on
entering ninth grade, indicates in writing an endorsement under
Subsection (c-1) that the student intends to earn. A district shall
permit a student to choose, at any time, to earn an endorsement
other than the endorsement the student previously indicated. A
student may graduate under the foundation high school program
without earning an endorsement if, after the student's sophomore
year:
(1) the student and the student's parent or person
standing in parental relation to the student are advised by a school
counselor of the specific benefits of graduating from high school
with one or more endorsements and are provided the information
regarding those endorsements collected under Section 28.02561; and
(2) the student's parent or person standing in
parental relation to the student files with a school counselor
written permission, on a form adopted by the agency, allowing the
student to graduate under the foundation high school program
without earning an endorsement.
(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 Algebra II [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) 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).
(b-2) In adopting rules under Subsection (b-1), the State
Board of Education shall:
(1) provide for a student to comply with the
curriculum requirements for an advanced English course under
Subsection (b-1)(1), for an advanced mathematics course under
Subsection (b-1)(2), and for any advanced science course under
Subsection (b-1)(3) by successfully completing a course in the
appropriate content area that has been approved as an advanced
course by board rule or that is offered as an advanced course for
credit without board approval as provided by Section 28.002(g-1);
and
(2) allow a student to comply with the curriculum
requirements for the [third and fourth mathematics credits under
Subsection (b-1)(2) or the] third and fourth science credits under
Subsection (b-1)(3) by successfully completing an advanced career
and technical course designated by the State Board of Education as
containing substantively similar and rigorous academic content.
SECTION 3. Subchapter B, Chapter 28, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 28.02561 to read as follows:
Sec. 28.02561. COLLECTION OF INFORMATION REGARDING
ENDORSEMENTS. (a) The agency shall require each school district
to collect and submit to the agency the following information
regarding district graduates who earned an endorsement under
Section 28.025(c-1):
(1) the endorsement earned under that section;
(2) whether the graduate enrolled in postsecondary
education;
(3) the graduate's college major or workforce
certificate or credential; and
(4) the graduate's employment status.
(b) The information collected under Subsection (a) shall be
disaggregated by endorsement category and provided to a student and
the student's parent or person standing in parental relation to the
student under Subsection 28.025(b).
SECTION 4. (a) 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.
(b) Section 28.025(b), Education Code, as amended by this
Act, applies only to students entering the ninth grade during the
2022-2023 school year or a later school year. For students entering
a grade above ninth grade during the 2022-2023 school year, Section
28.025(b), Education Code, as that section existed before amendment
by this Act, applies, and that section is continued in effect for
that purpose.
SECTION 5. 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.