Relating to establishing the Applied Sciences Pathway program.
relating to establishing the Applied Sciences Pathway program.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 29, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 29.914 to read as follows:
Sec. 29.914. APPLIED SCIENCES PATHWAY PROGRAM. (a) In this
section:
(1) “Certificate program” and “institution of higher
education” have the meanings assigned by Section 61.003.
(2) “Program” means the Applied Sciences Pathway
program established under this section.
(b) The commissioner shall establish and administer the
Applied Sciences Pathway program to provide opportunities for
students to concurrently earn high school diplomas and certificates
from institutions of higher education.
(c) The commissioner shall approve for participation in the
program partnerships between school districts or open-enrollment
charter schools and institutions of higher education to provide
courses in a non-duplicative sequence of progressive achievement
that lead to:
(1) a high school diploma; and
(2) completion of a certificate program with a
successful job placement rate in high-wage, high-growth jobs in one
of the following industries:
(A) plumbing and pipe fitting;
(B) electrical;
(C) welding;
(D) sheet metal;
(E) carpentry;
(F) masonry;
(G) diesel and heavy equipment;
(H) aviation maintenance;
(I) heating, ventilation, and air conditioning;
(J) construction management and inspection;
(K) mechanical and aerospace engineering;
(L) industrial maintenance and processes;
(M) robotics and automation;
(N) information technology and cybersecurity;
(O) oil and gas exploration and production;
(P) refining and chemical processes;
(Q) transportation distribution and logistics;
(R) manufacturing and industrial technology;
(S) electronics technology; or
(T) automotive technology.
(c-1) Beginning with the 2027-2028 school year, the
commissioner may revise the industries approved for purposes of
Subsection (c)(2) once every five years to reflect current labor
market trends.
(d) A partnership participating in the program must:
(1) enable the school district or open-enrollment
charter school to provide at least one course of study described by
Subsection (c) through a partnership with an institution of higher
education under the program;
(2) provide for a course of study described by
Subsection (c) that enables a participating student in grade level
11 or 12 to concurrently:
(A) enroll in a certificate program described by
Subsection (c)(2) at the partnering institution of higher education
under which the student may receive instruction from an instructor
employed by the institution and any appropriate work-based learning
opportunities from the institution and earn:
(i) a level one or level two certificate, as
defined by the commissioner; or
(ii) another certificate approved by
commissioner rule; and
(B) satisfy high school graduation requirements
and receive a high school diploma;
(3) require the partnering school district or
open-enrollment charter school to permit all district or school
students in grade level 11 or 12 to enroll in a course of study
provided under Subdivision (2);
(4) be governed by an articulation agreement between
the partnering school district or open-enrollment charter school
and institution of higher education; and
(5) meet any other requirements established by
commissioner rule.
(e) The commissioner may approve the substitution of a
credit in a subject area required for high school graduation under
Section 28.025 with a credit in a career and technology education
course provided by an institution of higher education under the
program that substantially covers the essential knowledge and
skills of the course for which it is substituted. This subsection
may not be construed to limit the number of substituted credits a
student may earn while participating in the program.
(f) A career and technology education course authorized as a
substitute credit under Subsection (e) may not count:
(1) for more than one credit toward the student’s high
school graduation requirements; or
(2) as a credit for more than one subject area.
(g) Time that a student spends participating in the program
is counted as part of the minimum number of instructional hours
required for a student to be considered a full-time student in
average daily attendance for purposes of Section 48.005.
(h) This section may not be construed to:
(1) prevent a student’s participation in career and
technology education or dual credit courses before the student
begins participating in the program; or
(2) authorize the commissioner to require approval by
the commissioner for partnerships between school districts or
open-enrollment charter schools and institutions of higher
education for purposes other than the program, including
partnerships to provide dual credit courses.
(i) The commissioner shall adopt rules as necessary to
administer the program.
SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2025-2026
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, 2025.
