high schoolers earn a diploma and child-care credential together

The text as introduced · 681 words

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.