HB4980 - Relating to establishing the Child-Care Professional Pathway program.

  89R13674 CMO-F     By: Wilson H.B. No. 4980       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to establishing the Child-Care Professional 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 29.919 to read as follows:           Sec.   29.919.     CHILD-CARE PROFESSIONAL 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 Child-Care Professional   Pathway program established under this section.           (b)     The commissioner shall establish and administer the   Child-Care Professional 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)     a Child Development Associate certificate   program with a successful job placement rate in the field of   professional child care; or                       (B)     an associate degree in human development,   psychology, sociology, applied science in early childhood   education, or another discipline relevant to the field of   professional child care.           (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 or degree program   described by Subsection (c) 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 Child Development Associate   credential; or                             (ii)     another credential, including a   certificate and associate degree that may be earned concurrently   under a hybrid program 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)     A course of study provided under the program must be   provided at no cost to the student.           (f)     The commissioner may approve the substitution of one   credit in a subject area required for high school graduation under   Section 28.025 with one credit in a child-care professional   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.           (g)     A child-care professional education course authorized   as a substitute credit under Subsection (f) 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.           (h)     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.           (i)     Nothing in this section may be construed to prevent a   student's participation in child-care professional education   courses before the student begins participating in the program.           (j)     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.