| (a) The list of certifications provided in this subsection
will be recognized for the purpose of accounting for students who
earn industry certifications in the public school accountability system
for the 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 school years.
Attached Graphic
(b) Beginning in the 2019-2020 school year, the list
of certifications provided in the annual accountability manual adopted
as a figure in §97.1001 of this title (relating to Accountability
Rating System) will be recognized for the purpose of accounting for
students who earn industry certifications in the public school accountability
system.
(c) The list of industry-based certifications to be
used in the public school accountability system shall be reviewed
and updated every two years beginning in 2021.
(d) Beginning in the 2022-2023 school year, certifications
recognized for the purpose of public school accountability shall meet
the following criteria.
(1) Certification. A certification is defined as a
validation or license that indicates an individual possesses certain
industry-specific skills and that meets two or more of the following
criteria:
(A) the certification is related to the performance
requirements of a career or occupation, measured against a set of
industry-accepted standards, and not dependent upon a particular curriculum
or program;
(B) the certification is earned by successfully completing
an assessment that demonstrates an individual's proficiency of the
prescribed standards; or
(C) the certification is a time-limited credential
that must be maintained through ongoing professional training and/or
testing requirements.
(2) Industry recognized and valued.
(A) A certification is industry recognized and valued
if the certification is:
(i) referred to the Texas Education Agency (TEA):
(I) by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) as part
of the inventory of industry-recognized credentials approved by the
industry-based certification advisory council authorized by Texas
Labor Code, §312.002; or
(II) directly using a process identified and implemented
by TEA and published on the TEA website if the certification is not
referred to TEA by TWC under subclause (I) of this clause; and
(ii) determined to be valued by a representative sample
of employers, as demonstrated in at least one of the following ways:
(I) inclusion of the certification in job postings
as required or highly recommended;
(II) use of the certification as a factor in selecting
candidates for an interview or for hire; or
(III) offer of higher pay for individuals who possess
the certification.
(B) If a determination of value under subparagraph
(A)(ii) of this paragraph is not made prior to referral under subparagraph
(A)(i)(I) of this paragraph, TEA may use a third-party organization
with expertise in gathering information from employers related to
the value of industry-based certifications to directly contact groups
of employers and report to TEA regarding whether the standards under
subparagraph (A)(ii) of this paragraph have been met.
(3) Attainable by a high school student. All eligibility
requirements such as age and experience can be met and the certification
awarded before or within the summer after a student's high school
graduation.
(4) Portable. The certification can:
(A) be transferred seamlessly to postsecondary work
through acceptance for credit or hours in core program courses at
an institution of higher education;
(B) be counted toward hours in an aligned apprenticeship
program;
(C) be part of a prescribed coherent sequence of industry-recognized
credentials to show progressive skills development; or
(D) support employment in more than one region of the
state.
(5) Certifying entity. The assessment of the knowledge
and skills required to obtain the certification is provided by or
determined by an independent, third-party certifying entity using
predetermined standards for knowledge, skills, and competencies.
(6) Capstone or end-of-program. A certification assessment
is taken at the culmination of a single high school course or multiple
related courses within a secondary program of study. There must be
at least 50% overlap between the certification assessment standards
and:
(A) the essential knowledge and skills for a secondary
course aligned to the career cluster associated with the certification
assessment; or
(B) the applicable essential knowledge and skills for
a set of courses within a program of study in a secondary career and
technical education program.
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| Source Note: The provisions of this §74.1003 adopted to be effective January 3, 2018, 42 TexReg 7686; amended to be effective August 23, 2020, 45 TexReg 5640; amended to be effective January 9, 2022, 46 TexReg 9286 |
