Section 127.87 - Extended Practicum in Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources (One Credit), Adopted 2024(a) Implementation. The provisions of this section shall be implemented by school districts beginning with the 2025-2026 school year.(b) General requirements. This course is recommended for students in Grades 11 and 12. The practicum course is a paid or an unpaid capstone experience for students participating in a coherent sequence of career and technical education courses in the Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources Career Cluster. Prerequisite: a minimum of two credits with at least one course in a Level 2 or higher course from the Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources Career Cluster. Corequisite: Practicum in Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources. This course must be taken concurrently with Practicum in Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources and may not be taken as a stand-alone course. Students shall be awarded one credit for successful completion of this course. A student may repeat this course once for credit provided that the student is experiencing different aspects of the industry and demonstrating proficiency in additional and more advanced knowledge and skills.(c) Introduction. (1) Career and technical education instruction provides content aligned with challenging academic standards and relevant technical knowledge and skills for students to further their education and succeed in current or emerging professions.(2) The Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources Career Cluster focuses on the production, processing, marketing, distribution, financing, and development of agricultural commodities and resources, including food, fiber, wood products, natural resources, horticulture, and other plant and animal products/resources.(3) Extended Practicum in Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources, a corequisite course, is designed to give students supervised practical application of knowledge and skills. Practicum experiences can occur in a variety of locations appropriate to the nature and level of experiences such as employment, independent study, internships, assistantships, mentorships, or laboratories. To prepare for careers in agriculture, food, and natural resources, students must attain academic knowledge and skills, acquire technical knowledge and skills related to the workplace, and develop knowledge and skills regarding career opportunities, entry requirements, and industry expectations. To prepare for success, students need opportunities to learn, reinforce, apply, and transfer their knowledge and skills and technologies in a variety of settings.(4) Students are encouraged to participate in extended learning experiences such as career and technical student organizations and other leadership or extracurricular organizations.(5) Statements that contain the word "including" reference content that must be mastered, while those containing the phrase "such as" are intended as possible illustrative examples.(d) Knowledge and skills. (1) The student demonstrates professional standards/employability skills as required by business and industry. The student is expected to: (A) participate in a paid or an unpaid, laboratory or work-based application of previously studied knowledge and skills related to agriculture, food, and natural resources; (B) participate in training, education, or preparation for licensure, certification, or other relevant credentials to prepare for employment;(C) demonstrate professional standards needed to be employable such as punctuality, time management, initiative, and cooperation with increased fluency;(D) demonstrate teamwork and conflict-management skills with increased fluency to achieve collective goals; and(E) demonstrate planning and time-management skills and tools with increased fluency to enhance results and complete work tasks.(2) The student develops a supervised agricultural experience program. The student is expected to: (A) plan, propose, conduct, document, and evaluate a supervised agricultural experience program as an experiential learning activity; and(B) use appropriate record-keeping skills in a supervised agricultural experience program.(3) The student develops leadership skills through participation in an agricultural youth organization. The student is expected to: (A) participate in youth agricultural leadership opportunities;(B) review and participate in a local program of activities; and(C) create or update documentation of relevant agricultural experience such as community service, professional, or classroom experiences.(4) The student implements advanced professional communications strategies. The student is expected to: (A) apply appropriate content knowledge, technical concepts, and vocabulary with increased fluency to analyze information and follow directions;(B) demonstrate verbal communication consistently in a clear, concise, and effective manner;(C) demonstrate non-verbal communication consistently and effectively; and(D) analyze, interpret, and effectively communicate information, data, and observations.(5) The student applies concepts of critical thinking and problem solving. The student is expected to: (A) apply critical-thinking skills with increased fluency both independently and collaboratively to solve problems and make decisions; and(B) demonstrate the use of content, technical concepts, and vocabulary when analyzing information and following directions.(6) The student understands and applies proper safety techniques in the workplace. The student is expected to: (A) demonstrate and consistently follow workplace safety rules and regulations;(B) demonstrate safe operation of tools and equipment;(C) troubleshoot equipment when operation fails; (D) demonstrate safe handling and proper disposal of supplies; (E) identify unsafe conditions or practices; and(F) describe procedures for reporting and handling accidents and safety incidents.(7) The student documents growth in advanced technical knowledge and skills. The student is expected to: (A) develop advanced technical knowledge and skills related to the student's occupational objective;(B) demonstrate growth of technical skill competencies;(C) evaluate personal strengths and weaknesses in technical skill proficiency; and(D) update a professional portfolio.19 Tex. Admin. Code § 127.87
Adopted by Texas Register, Volume 49, Number 36, September 6, 2024, TexReg 6996, eff. 9/9/2024