Section 102.1091 - College and Career Readiness School Models(a) Definitions. The following words and terms, when used in this section, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. (1) Benchmarks--The standards for program implementation that are included in the blueprints.(2) Blueprint--The document that outlines the College and Career Readiness School Models (CCRSM) requirements, including benchmarks, design elements, artifacts, and outcomes-based measures.(3) Business or industry partner--Employers who enter into a formal agreement with a Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) to support work-based learning (WBL).(4) Design elements--The processes, structures, or services within each benchmark that a CCRSM campus must fulfill.(5) Designated campus--A CCRSM campus with six or more years of implementation that has met outcomes-based measures (OBMs) necessary for designation.(6) Designated with Distinction campus--A CCRSM campus with seven or more years of implementation that has met Designated with Distinction OBMs.(7) Early College High School (ECHS)--A school established under Texas Education Code (TEC), §29.908, that enables a student in Grade 9, 10, 11, or 12 who is at risk of dropping out of school, as defined by TEC, §29.081, or who wishes to accelerate completion of high school to combine high school courses and college-level courses. An ECHS program must provide for a course of study that, on or before the fifth anniversary of a student's first day of high school, enables a participating student to receive both a high school diploma and either an applied or academic associate degree, with a completed field of study curriculum, as defined by TEC, §61.823, that is transferable toward a baccalaureate degree at one or more general academic teaching institutions, as defined by TEC, §61.003.(8) Institution of higher education (IHE)--An institution of higher education has the meaning assigned by TEC, §61.003.(9) Needs improvement campus--A CCRSM campus with six or more years of implementation that has not met OBMs necessary for designation.(10) Optional Flexible School Day Program (OFSDP)--A program approved by the commissioner of education to provide flexible hours and days of attendance for eligible students in Grades 9-12, as defined in § 129.1027 of this title (relating to Optional Flexible School Day Program).(11) Outcomes-based measures--The data indicators related to access, achievement, and attainment that a CCRSM campus is required to meet to achieve a status of Designated or Designated with Distinction.(12) Pathways in Technology Early College High School--A school established under TEC, §29.553, that enables a student in Grades 9, 10, 11, or 12 who is at risk of dropping out of school, as defined by TEC, §29.081, or who wishes to accelerate completion of high school to combine high school and postsecondary courses. A P-TECH program must be open enrollment and provide for a course of study that, on or before the sixth anniversary of a student's first day of high school, enables a participating student to receive both a high school diploma and an associate degree, a two-year postsecondary certificate, or an industry certification, and must include a work-based education program.(13) Planning campus--A CCRSM campus with zero years of implementation.(14) Provisional campus--A CCRSM campus with one to five years of implementation.(15) School district--For the purposes of this section, the definition of school district includes an open- enrollment charter school.(16) Work-based education program--Practical, hands-on activities or experiences through which a learner interacts with industry professionals in a workplace that may be an in-person, virtual, or simulated setting. Learners prepare for employment or advancement along a career pathway by completing purposeful tasks that develop academic, technical, and employability skills. A work-based education program is also known as work-based learning.(b) Conditions for approval of CCRSM status.(1) Conditions for approval of a Planning campus. (A) Applicant eligibility. Any school district may submit a separate application on behalf of each campus it requests to be considered as a Planning campus.(B) Application process. A school district must submit each application in accordance with the program application cycle (PAC) procedures determined by the commissioner.(C) Planning campus timeline. A planning campus shall be eligible to apply for Provisional campus status after the mandatory planning year.(2) Conditions for approval of a Provisional campus.(A) Applicant eligibility. Any Planning campus or approved provisional campus may submit an application to be considered as a Provisional campus.(B) Application process. Any Planning campus or approved Provisional campus must submit each application in accordance with the PAC procedures determined by the commissioner.(C) Provisional campus timeline. A Provisional campus shall be eligible to apply to renew its status as a Provisional campus yearly for up to five years.(3) Conditions for approval of a Designated campus.(A) Applicant eligibility. A Provisional campus entering its fifth year of operation may submit an application on behalf of the campus it requests to be considered as a Designated campus.(B) Application process. A prospective Designated campus must submit each application in accordance with the PAC procedures determined by the commissioner. Campuses must meet access, achievement, and attainment OBM criteria and implement all design elements in order to receive CCRSM Designated status.(C) Designated campus timeline. A Designated campus shall be eligible to apply to renew its status as a Designated campus yearly.(4) Conditions for approval of a Designated with Distinction campus. (A) Applicant eligibility. A Designated campus may qualify for Designated with Distinction status in one or more of the following OBM distinction criteria areas beginning in its seventh year of operation:(B) Application process. A prospective Designated with Distinction campus must submit each application in accordance with the PAC procedures determined by the commissioner. The campus application in the PAC will serve as the Designated with Distinction application. Campuses must meet access, achievement, and attainment designated with distinction OBM criteria and implement all design elements in order to receive CCRSM Designated with Distinction status.(C) Designated with Distinction campus timeline. A Designated with Distinction campus shall qualify to renew its status as a Designated with Distinction campus yearly.(c) Needs Improvement and revocation of CCRSM status.(1) Determination of CCRSM Needs Improvement status. If the conditions of approval for CCRSM Designated status are not met, including failure to meet the required OBM designated criteria, the CCRSM campus will be classified as a CCRSM Needs Improvement campus.(2) Needs Improvement campus timeline. A Needs Improvement campus is required to remain in the Needs Improvement status for a period of three school years following campus notification of the Needs Improvement status. During the three years of Needs Improvement status, the campus is required to complete the PAC for Needs Improvement progress reports.(3) Needs Improvement progress monitoring. During the three years of Needs Improvement status, the campus will receive targeted technical assistance at no cost to the CCRSM to improve OBMs.(4) Fulfillment of CCRSM Needs Improvement requirements. Following completion of the three-year Needs Improvement period and upon successfully meeting the OBM designation criteria, the CCRSM will move out of the Needs Improvement status and into the Designated or Designated with Distinction status.(5) Revocation of CCRSM status. Following completion of the mandatory three years of Needs Improvement status, if a CCRSM does not successfully meet the OBM designation criteria, the authorization of the campus as a CCRSM will be revoked and the campus will be removed from the CCRSM network.(d) Notification timeline. TEA will notify each applicant of its selection or non-selection as a CCRSM Planning, Provisional, Designated, Designated with Distinction, or Needs Improvement campus. The designation notification will be sent no later than the summer following the submission of the campus application in the PAC. Campuses selected for Planning, Provisional, Designated, and Designated with Distinction status will be publicly identified on TEA's website and will be identified as such in designation status notification to the district and to the IHE partner listed in the CCRSM PAC. Campuses in Needs Improvement status will not be publicly identified but will be identified as Needs Improvement in the designation status notification sent to the district and to the IHE partner listed in the CCRSM PAC.(e) Conditions of CCRSM program operation.(1) As established under TEC, §29.908, an ECHS must: (A) enable a student in Grade 9, 10, 11, or 12 who is at risk of dropping out of school, as defined by TEC, §29.081, or who wishes to accelerate completion of high school to provide for a course of study that enables a participating student to combine high school courses and college-level courses;(B) allow participating students to complete high school and enroll in a program at an IHE that will enable a student to, on or before the fifth anniversary of a student's first day of high school, receive a high school diploma and either an applied or academic associate degree, with a completed field of study curriculum, as defined by TEC, §61.823, that is transferable toward a baccalaureate degree at one or more general academic teaching institutions, as defined by TEC, §61.003;(C) include articulation agreements with colleges, universities, and technical schools in Texas to provide a participating student access to postsecondary educational and training opportunities at a college, university, or technical school; and(D) provide a participating student flexibility in class scheduling and academic mentoring.(2) As established under TEC, §29.553, a P-TECH must: (A) be open enrollment and enable a student in Grade 9, 10, 11, or 12 who is at risk of dropping out of school, as defined by TEC, §29.081, or who wishes to accelerate completion of high school to combine high school courses and postsecondary courses;(B) provide for a course of study that, on or before the sixth anniversary of a student's first day of high school, enables a participating student to receive both a high school diploma and an associate degree, a two-year postsecondary certificate, or an industry certification and complete work-based training;(C) include articulation agreements with colleges, universities, and technical schools in Texas to provide a participating student access to postsecondary educational and training opportunities at a college, university, or technical school;(D) include a memorandum of understanding with regional business or industry partners to provide a participating student access to work-based training;(E) include in each memorandum of understanding with a regional business or industry partner an agreement that the regional business or industry partner will give to a student who receives work-based training from the partner under the P-TECH program first priority in interviewing for any jobs for which the student is qualified that are available on the students' completion of the program; and(F) provide a participating student flexibility in class scheduling and academic mentoring.(3) The CCRSM must comply with all the requirements outlined in the CCRSM blueprints. If a CCRSM chooses to discontinue CCRSM operations, the CCRSM must ensure previously enrolled CCRSM students will have the opportunity to complete their course of study. The CCRSM must notify TEA of its decision to discontinue operations and submit an official letter from the district superintendent with the district decision.(4) A school district operating a CCRSM program must comply with all assurances included in the program application submitted through the PAC. If the CCRSM changes the location of the CCRSM, the CCRSM model, or the IHE partner outside of the PAC, the CCRSM must notify TEA of the change.(5) CCRSM approval is valid for a maximum of one school year.(6) The CCRSM program must be provided at no cost to CCRSM students. A student enrolled in a CCRSM program may not be required to pay for tuition, fees, or required textbooks for any coursework. The school district in which the student is enrolled shall pay for tuition, fees, and required textbooks, to the extent those charges are not waived by the IHE.(7) P-TECH Year 5 and 6 students are not counted for accountability purposes.(f) Programs available to an approved CCRSM. (1) Approval as a CCRSM will allow a campus to access programs available to CCRSM programs.(2) An approved CCRSM campus may access the OFSDP defined in § 129.1027 of this title. An approved CCRSM campus is eligible for OFSDP but must apply separately in accordance with TEC, §29.0822, and procedures established by the commissioner.(3) Approval as a P-TECH will allow a campus to access programs available to the P-TECH, including participation in a Year 5 and Year 6 P-TECH program.(4) P-TECH Year 5 and 6 students are not counted for accountability purposes.(g) Evaluation of a CCRSM program. Evaluation of the CCRSM program will occur through the PAC and using self-reported data provided by the campus to generate OBM data. Progress monitoring will also occur at the campus level through campus coaching provided through state-appointed technical assistance.(h) Revocation of authority. (1) The commissioner may deny renewal or revoke the authorization of a CCRSM program based on the following factors: (A) noncompliance with application assurances and/or the provisions of this section;(B) lack of program success as evidenced by progress reports and program OBM data;(C) failure to meet performance standards specified in the application and/or CCRSM blueprints; or(D) failure to provide accurate, timely, and complete information as required by TEA to evaluate the effectiveness of the CCRSM program.(2) A decision by the commissioner to deny renewal as or revoke authorization of a CCRSM is final and may not be appealed.(3) The commissioner may impose sanctions on a school district as authorized by TEC, Chapters 39 and 39A, for failure to comply with the requirements of this section.19 Tex. Admin. Code § 102.1091
The provisions of this §102.1091 adopted to be effective July 2, 2007, 32 TexReg 3985; Adopted by Texas Register, Volume 49, Number 33, August 16, 2024, TexReg 6211, eff. 8/22/2024