Sec. 33.009. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION AND CAREER COUNSELING ACADEMIES. (a) In this section, "center" means the Center for Teaching and Learning at The University of Texas at Austin.

(b) The center shall develop and make available postsecondary education and career counseling academies for school counselors and other postsecondary advisors employed by a school district at a middle school, junior high school, or high school.

(c) In developing academies under this section, the center shall solicit input from the agency, school counselors, the Texas Workforce Commission, institutions of higher education, and business, community, and school leaders.

(d) An academy developed under this section must provide counselors and other postsecondary advisors with knowledge and skills to provide counseling to students regarding postsecondary success and productive career planning and must include information relating to:

(1) each endorsement described by Section 28.025(c-1), including:

(A) the course requirements for each endorsement; and

(B) the postsecondary educational and career opportunities associated with each endorsement;

(2) available methods for a student to earn credit for a course not offered at the school in which the student is enrolled, including enrollment in an electronic course provided through the state virtual school network under Chapter 30A;

(3) general academic performance requirements for admission to an institution of higher education, including the requirements for automatic admission to a general academic teaching institution under Section 51.803;

(4) regional workforce needs, including information about the required education and the average wage or salary for careers that meet those workforce needs; and

(5) effective strategies for engaging students and parents in planning for postsecondary education and potential careers, including participation in mentorships and business partnerships.

(d-1) An academy developed under this section may include information regarding social-emotional learning and indicators of behavioral issues.

(e) The center shall develop an online instructional program that school districts may use in providing the instruction in high school, college, and career preparation required by Section 28.016. The program must be structured for use as part of an existing course.

(f) The center may access the P-20/Workforce Data Repository established under Section 1.005(j-1) in developing training, instructional programs, and technological tools under this section and conducting related evaluations. The center may be provided access to the data repository through collaboration with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board or a center for education research established under Section 1.005. The agency and the coordinating board may not condition the center's access to the data repository on agency or board review of the proposed training, instructional programs, technological tools, or related evaluations developed by the center.

(g) A teacher of a course described by Section 28.016(c)(2) or (3) may attend an academy developed under this section.

(h) From funds appropriated for that purpose, a school counselor who attends the academy under this section is entitled to receive a stipend in the amount determined by the center. If funds are available after all eligible school counselors have received a stipend under this subsection, the center shall pay a stipend in the amount determined by the center to a teacher who attends the academy under this section. A stipend received under this subsection is not considered in determining whether a district is paying the school counselor or teacher the minimum monthly salary under Section 21.402.

(i) From available funds appropriated for purposes of this section, the center may provide to school counselors and other educators curricula, instructional materials, and technological tools relating to postsecondary education and career counseling.

(j) The center shall comply with any applicable provision of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (20 U.S.C. Section 1232g) in performing its duties or exercising its authority under this section.

Added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 988 (H.B. 18), Sec. 5, eff. June 19, 2015.

Amended by:

Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 961 (S.B. 504), Sec. 1, eff. June 14, 2019.