HBA-MPM H.B. 2727 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2727 By: Solis, Jim Higher Education 4/7/1999 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE A tech-prep consortium is composed of members from private industry, public secondary schools, and post-secondary educational institutions which cooperate to attempt to provide a highly-skilled, trained workforce in the field of technology. Tech-prep programs typically combine at least two years of secondary education with two years of post-secondary education in a sequential course of study approved by the Texas State Board of Education. This program must lead to an associate's degree or certification in a specific field. Each tech-prep consortium has a governing board composed of members from both the private and public sectors. H.B. 2727 codifies the tech-prep program, which is already in existence. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 61, Education Code, by adding Subchapter T, as follows: SUBCHAPTER T. TECH-PREP EDUCATION Sec. 61.851. DEFINITIONS. Defines "articulation agreement," "division," "junior college," "tech-prep consortium," and "technical college." Sec. 61.852. TECH-PREP PROGRAM. (a) Sets forth aspects of a tech-prep program (program). Provides that a tech-prep consortium (consortium) is encouraged to include four years of secondary education in a program. Sec. 61.853. REGIONAL TECH-PREP CONSORTIA: GOVERNING BOARD; DIRECTOR; FISCAL AGENT. (a) Sets forth that each regional consortium is governed by a governing board (board) composed of private and public sector leaders in the ratio agreed to by the participants in the consortium. (b) Requires the board to determine the policies of the consortium. (c) Requires the board to select a director, who serves at will of the board, to manage the consortium's affairs. (d) Requires the board to select a junior college, technical college, university, regional education service center, independent school district, council of governments, or private industry council to act as the consortium's fiscal agent (agent) and to provide it human resource and business office services. Provides that the agent serves at the direction of the board and under the terms of agreement between the board and agent. Sec. 61.854. TECH-PREP CONSORTIUM ALLOTMENT. (a) Requires the Community and Technical Colleges Division of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (division), as the agent of the Texas Education Agency, in each fiscal year, to allot the federal tech-prep implementation money this state receives to the regional consortia for regional administration according to regionally developed plans designed to meet regional goals. Requires the division to allot the money to consortia in accordance with a formula adopted by the coordinating board that addresses the needs of the consortia based on certain factors. (b) Requires an eligible consortium that desires assistance under this section to submit an application to the division on a form prescribed by the division for that purpose. Provides that the form must address the formula adopted by the coordinating board under Subsection (a). (c) Requires a division to make a payment in the amount of the consortium's allotment under Subsection (a) to the consortium's agent, if it has a completed application on file under Subsection (b). Sec. 61.855. GRANTS FOR TECH-PREP EDUCATION. (a) Requires the division, in accordance with this subchapter and with a formula adopted by the coordinating board, to award grants from amounts made available under Section 61.854, Education Code, to consortia for programs described by Subsection (c). (b) Provides that in order to be eligible for a grant, a consortium must meet a specific composition of educational institutions. (c) Provides that a tech-prep program must: _be implemented under an articulation agreement; _consist of two to four years of secondary school preceding graduation, as well as specified additional years of study; _have a common core of required proficiency based on the recommended high school program adopted by the State Board of Education under Section 28.025(a) (High School Diploma and Certificate; Academic Achievement Record.), Education Code, with proficiencies in certain areas, and technologies designed to lead to an associate's degree or postsecondary certificate in a specific career field; _include the development of program curricula for both secondary and postsecondary participants in the consortium that meet certain standards and criteria; _include in-service training for teachers that include certain training methods; _include training programs for counselors designed to enable counselors to more effectively work with students regarding the program and employment; _provide equal access to the full range of programs for individuals who are members of special populations, including by the development of program services appropriate to the needs of special programs; and _provide for preparatory services that assist participants in programs. (d) Provides that a consortium that receives a grant under this section must use the money awarded to develop and operate a program described in Subsection (c). (e) Authorizes a program to make certain provisions with respect to equipment, technical assistance, and articulation agreements. Sec. 61.856. GRANT APPLICATION. (a) Provides that each regional consortium desiring to obtain a grant under this subchapter must submit an application to the division at the time and manner prescribed. (b) Provides that an application under this section must contain certain information. (c) Requires the division to approve the application if it meets the requirements of this section and Section 61.854(b), Education Code. (d) Requires the division to give special consideration to an application for a demonstration program that makes certain provisions regarding employment placement activities for students, addressing issues related to retention, providing education or training in certain areas or skills, or demonstrating how programs may help students achieve academic and employability competencies. (e) Requires the division to ensure an equitable distribution of assistance between urban and regional consortium participants in awarding grants under this subchapter. Sec. 61.857. REPORT; REVIEW OF FIVE-YEAR PLAN. (a) Requires each consortium receiving a grant under this subchapter to annually prepare and submit to the division a written report on the effectiveness of the programs for which it received assistance. Provides that the report must include a description of the manner in which the consortium awarded any subgrants in the region it served. (b) Requires the consortium to review the plan and make any changes necessary after the second year of the five-year plan required under Section 61.856(b)(1), Education Code. Sec. 61.858. DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS. (a) Authorizes the division to award grants to regional consortia described by Section 61.855(b) to enable to consortia to establish and implement demonstration programs from funds appropriated for that purpose each fiscal year. (b) Provides that a demonstration program under this section must involve the location of a secondary school on the site of a junior college, as well as a business as a participant in the consortium. Additionally, it must include the voluntary participation of secondary school students in the program and is authorized to provide summer internships at a business for students or teachers. (c) Provides that a consortium desiring to obtain a grant under this section must submit an application to the division at the time and manner prescribed. Provides that the application must include information required by the board. (d) A demonstration program must: _be implemented under an articulation agreement; _consist of two to four years of secondary school preceding graduation, as well as well as two or more years of higher education or apprenticeship; _have a common core of required proficiency based on the recommended high school program adopted by the State Board of Education under Section 28.025(a), Education Code, with proficiencies in certain areas designed to lead to an associate's degree or postsecondary certificate in a specific career field; _include the development of program curricula for both secondary and postsecondary participants in the consortium that meets certain standards and criteria; _include in-service training for teachers that includes certain training methods; _include training programs for counselors designed to enable counselors to more effectively work with students regarding the program; _provide equal access to the full range of programs for individuals who are members of special populations, including by the development of program services appropriate to the needs of special programs; and _provide for preparatory services that assist participants in programs. (e) Requires the division to give special consideration to an application for a demonstration program that makes certain provisions regarding employment placement activities for students, addressing issues related to retention, providing education or training in certain areas or skills, or demonstrating how programs may help students achieve academic and employability competencies. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1999. SECTION 3. Emergency clause.