Highlights 77th Texas Legislature - Senate

_______________________ E DUCATION/Public
DUCATION/Public
77 th Texas Legislature
Adds a new objective to public education requiring school districts to offer programs of study for broad
career concentrations in areas of agriculture science technology, arts and communication, business
education, family and consumer science, health occupations technology, trade and industry, and
technology education that will prepare students for continued learning and postsecondary education in
employment settings.
Requires school boards to appoint a business and industry representative on its district- and campus-level
planning and decision-making committees.
Authorizes an unpaid and unreimbursed nine-member Career and Technology (CT) Education Advisory
Board appointed by the commissioner of education (commissioner) to advise the agency and school
districts.
Allows property-wealthy school districts to reduce their recapture amount by providing an area-CT
education program for students from other districts, after receiving the commissioner’s approval.
Improving Academic Preparation - H.B. 1144
by Representative Grusendorf, et al.
Senate Sponsor: Senator Harris
Requires TEA and The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to ensure that student data is in
standardized, compatible formats that can allow assessment of a student’s entire academic record.
Requires school districts to enroll high school students in the recommended or advanced curriculum unless
the student, parents, and school counselor or administrator agree to enroll the student in the minimum
curriculum beginning with ninth graders in 2004-2005.
Math Initiative
Authorizes the commissioner of education (commissioner) to award grants to institutions to improve math
instruction preparation.
Establishes a math homework and exam grading service with funds appropriated for teachers, not
students.
Requires the State Board of Educator Certification to establish a master mathematics teacher certification
and establishes the selection criteria.
Authorizes the commissioner to establish a master mathematics teacher grants program to develop training
materials and resources for school districts with funds appropriated for the purpose. Requires the
commissioner to establish professional development institutes in mathematics and pay, from funds
appropriated, stipends to teachers who complete a training course. Requires the commissioner to develop
and distribute mathematics-skills assessment and diagnosis instruments for use by school districts.
Authorizes school districts to establish after-school and intensive mathematics instruction programs and the
commissioner to award grant programs, from funds appropriated for the purpose.
Authorizes the commissioner to participate in multi-state efforts to develop standardized end-of-course
exams and allows the commissioner to require school districts to administer the test.
Senate Research Center 96