Texas Association of School Boards Update: Governor signs HB 5 into Law
"Gov.
Rick Perry today signed into law a package of education bills today that he
said will improve opportunities for Texas students.
Key
among those bills was House Bill 5, which reduces end-of-course exams
required for graduation from 15 to 5; provides multiple pathways to graduation
through endorsement plans in which students may take classes that are more
relevant to their chosen career paths; and establishes a new A-F accountability
system for districts – not campuses.
Other
bills signed by the governor include:
HB
809 requires the Texas Workforce
Commission to provide quarterly updates to TEA regarding current and projected
employment opportunities. School districts will use the information to plan and
implement career and technology education and training programs.
HB
2201 would require the SBOE to approve
at least six advanced technology and career-related courses that satisfy the
third and fourth credits in math and science.
SB
441 establishes the Texas Fast Start
Program to identify and develop methods supporting competency-based,
rapid-deployment education delivery models that maximize academic or workforce
education credit from public junior and state colleges and technical
institutions in order to expedite entry into the workforce. The Texas Workforce
Commission will collaborate with the THECB, junior and state colleges, and
technical institutes. Fast start programs will focus on current and future
employment needs and will enable students to obtain accelerated postsecondary
certifications and degrees in high-demand fields.
HB
3662 creates the Texas Workforce
Innovation Needs Program to provide selected school districts, public
institutions of higher education, and private or independent institutions of
higher education with the opportunity to establish innovative programs designed
to prepare students for careers for which there is demand in this state."
