H.B. No. 20         AN ACT   relating to establishing the Applied Sciences 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 29.914 to read as follows:          Sec. 29.914.  APPLIED SCIENCES 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 Applied Sciences Pathway   program established under this section.          (b)  The commissioner shall establish and administer the   Applied Sciences 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 certificate program with a   successful job placement rate in high-wage, high-growth jobs in one   of the following industries:                      (A)  plumbing and pipe fitting;                      (B)  electrical;                      (C)  welding;                      (D)  sheet metal;                      (E)  carpentry;                      (F)  masonry;                      (G)  diesel and heavy equipment;                      (H)  aviation maintenance;                      (I)  heating, ventilation, and air conditioning;                      (J)  construction management and inspection;                      (K)  mechanical and aerospace engineering;                      (L)  industrial maintenance and processes;                      (M)  robotics and automation;                      (N)  information technology and cybersecurity;                      (O)  oil and gas exploration and production;                      (P)  refining and chemical processes;                      (Q)  transportation distribution and logistics;                      (R)  manufacturing and industrial technology;                      (S)  electronics technology; or                      (T)  automotive technology.          (c-1)  Beginning with the 2027-2028 school year, the   commissioner may revise the industries approved for purposes of   Subsection (c)(2) once every five years to reflect current labor   market trends.          (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 program described by   Subsection (c)(2) 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 level one or level two certificate, as   defined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board; or                            (ii)  a credential recognized as a   credential of value by Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board   rule and approved by the commissioner for purposes of the program;   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 institutional agreement between   the partnering school district or open-enrollment charter school   and institution of higher education that meets the requirements for   a dual credit partnership adopted by Texas Higher Education   Coordinating Board rule; and                (5)  meet any other requirements established by   commissioner rule.          (e)  Except as provided by Subsection (e-1), the   commissioner may approve the substitution of a credit in a subject   area required for high school graduation under Section 28.025 with   a credit in a career and technology 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.  This subsection may not be   construed to limit the number of substituted credits a student may   earn while participating in the program.          (e-1)  Before a student may earn substituted credit under   Subsection (e) for a secondary-level course in a subject described   by Section 28.025(b-1)(1), (2), (3), or (4), the student must   perform satisfactorily on each end-of-course assessment instrument   required for courses in the corresponding subject that precede the   course for which the student seeks substituted credit in the   district's prescribed course sequence.          (f)  A career and technology education course authorized as a   substitute credit under Subsection (e) 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.          (g)  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.          (h)  This section may not be construed to:                (1)  prevent a student's participation in career and   technology education or dual credit courses before the student   begins participating in the program; or                (2)  authorize the commissioner to require approval by   the commissioner for partnerships between school districts or   open-enrollment charter schools and institutions of higher   education for purposes other than the program, including   partnerships to provide dual credit courses.          (i)  The commissioner shall adopt rules as necessary to   administer the program.          (j)  This section expires September 1, 2031.          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.       ______________________________ ______________________________      President of the Senate Speaker of the House                   I certify that H.B. No. 20 was passed by the House on April   16, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 144, Nays 1, 1 present, not   voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.   No. 20 on May 30, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 134, Nays 0, 2   present, not voting.     ______________________________   Chief Clerk of the House               I certify that H.B. No. 20 was passed by the Senate, with   amendments, on May 29, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays   0.     ______________________________   Secretary of the Senate      APPROVED: __________________                   Date                       __________________                 Governor