TITLE 19. EDUCATION

PART 2. TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY

CHAPTER 74. CURRICULUM REQUIREMENTS

SUBCHAPTER BB. COMMISSIONER'S RULES CONCERNING HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION

19 TAC §74.1035

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) proposes new §74.1035, concerning the applied sciences pathway program. The proposed new section would implement requirements of House Bill (HB) 20, 89th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, by defining key terms, outlining program approval and course substitution processes, and identifying program participation requirements.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND JUSTIFICATION: HB 20, 89th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, established the applied sciences pathway program in Texas Education Code (TEC), §29.914, to provide eligible students with opportunities to concurrently earn high school diplomas and certificates from institutions of higher education (IHEs).

Proposed new §74.1035 would implement TEC, §29.914, by establishing requirements for the approval and operation of applied sciences pathway programs. The proposal would identify the purpose of the program; define key terms; establish requirements for program approval, including identification of the industries for which an applied sciences pathway program may be established; establish procedures for course substitution approval; identify student participation requirements; and establish related timelines.

FISCAL IMPACT: Shannon Trejo, deputy commissioner of school programs, has determined that for the first five-year period the proposal is in effect, there are no additional costs to state or local government, including school districts and open-enrollment charter schools, required to comply with the proposal.

LOCAL EMPLOYMENT IMPACT: The proposal has no effect on local economy; therefore, no local employment impact statement is required under Texas Government Code, §2001.022.

SMALL BUSINESS, MICROBUSINESS, AND RURAL COMMUNITY IMPACT: The proposal has no direct adverse economic impact for small businesses, microbusinesses, or rural communities; therefore, no regulatory flexibility analysis, specified in Texas Government Code, §2006.002, is required.

COST INCREASE TO REGULATED PERSONS: The proposal does not impose a cost on regulated persons, another state agency, a special district, or a local government and, therefore, is not subject to Texas Government Code, §2001.0045.

TAKINGS IMPACT ASSESSMENT: The proposal does not impose a burden on private real property and, therefore, does not constitute a taking under Texas Government Code, §2007.043.

GOVERNMENT GROWTH IMPACT: TEA staff prepared a Government Growth Impact Statement assessment for this proposed rulemaking. During the first five years the proposed rulemaking would be in effect, it would create a new regulation by establishing a rule related to implementation of the applied sciences pathway program, in accordance with HB 20, 89th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2025.

The proposed rulemaking would not create or eliminate a government program; would not require the creation of new employee positions or elimination of existing employee positions; would not require an increase or decrease in future legislative appropriations to the agency; would not require an increase or decrease in fees paid to the agency; would not expand, limit, or repeal an existing regulation; would not increase or decrease the number of individuals subject to its applicability; and would not positively or adversely affect the state's economy.

PUBLIC BENEFIT AND COST TO PERSONS: Dr. Trejo has determined that for each year of the first five years the proposal is in effect, the public benefit anticipated as a result of enforcing the proposal would be providing school districts, open-enrollment charter schools, and IHEs with additional guidance and clarification related to implementation of an applied sciences pathway program.

DATA AND REPORTING IMPACT: The proposed new rule would have a data and reporting impact. Each school district and open-enrollment charter school wishing to implement an applied sciences pathway program would be required to obtain approval for and report participation in an applied sciences pathway program.

PRINCIPAL AND CLASSROOM TEACHER PAPERWORK REQUIREMENTS: TEA has determined that the proposal would not require a written report or other paperwork to be completed by a principal or classroom teacher.

PUBLIC COMMENTS: TEA requests public comments on the proposal, including, per Texas Government Code, §2001.024(a)(8), information related to the cost, benefit, or effect of the proposed rule and any applicable data, research, or analysis, from any person required to comply with the proposed rule or any other interested person. The public comment period on the proposal begins November 6, 2026, and ends December 7, 2026. A request for a public hearing on the proposal submitted under the Administrative Procedure Act must be received by the commissioner of education not more than 14 calendar days after notice of the proposal has been published in the Texas Register on November 6, 2026. A form for submitting public comments is available on the TEA website at https://tea.texas.gov/laws-and-rules/commissioner-rules-tac/proposed-commissioner-education-rules.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY. The new section is proposed under TEC, §29.914, as added by HB 20, 89th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, which requires the commissioner of education to establish and administer the applied sciences pathway program to provide opportunities for students to concurrently earn high school diplomas and certificates from IHEs and requires the commissioner to adopt rules as necessary to administer the program.

CROSS REFERENCE TO STATUTE. The new section implements TEC, §29.914, as added by HB 20, 89th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2025.

§74.1035. Applied Sciences Pathway Program.

(a) Purpose. The applied sciences pathway program is established under Texas Education Code (TEC), §29.914, to provide opportunities for eligible students to concurrently earn high school diplomas and certificates from institutions of higher education (IHEs).

(b) Definitions. The following terms, when used in this section, shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

(1) Career and technical education course--A course that is included in a college-level certificate program in an industry approved to be included in an applied sciences pathway program.

(2) Certificate program--A grouping of subject-matter courses which, when satisfactorily completed by a student, will entitle the student to a certificate; a workforce program designed for entry-level employment or for upgrading skills and knowledge within an occupation that serves as a building block and/or exit point for an applied associate degree program as defined in §9.1(7) of this title (relating to Definitions), or documentary evidence, other than a degree, of completion of a course of study at the postsecondary level.

(c) Program approval.

(1) To be approved as an applied sciences pathway program, the program must prepare students for successful job placement in one of the following industries:

(A) automotive technology;

(B) aviation maintenance;

(C) carpentry;

(D) construction management and inspection;

(E) diesel and heavy equipment;

(F) electrical;

(G) electronics technology;

(H) heating, ventilation, and air conditioning;

(I) industrial maintenance and processes;

(J) information technology and cybersecurity;

(K) manufacturing and industrial technology;

(L) masonry;

(M) mechanical and aerospace engineering;

(N) oil and gas exploration and production;

(O) plumbing and pipe fitting;

(P) refining and chemical processes;

(Q) robotics and automation;

(R) sheet metal;

(S) transportation, distribution, and logistics; or

(T) welding.

(2) A school system shall obtain approval from the Texas Education Agency (TEA) before offering an applied sciences pathway program.

(3) Prior to applying for approval, a school system shall establish a formal memorandum of understanding with its partner IHE that clearly delineates the roles and responsibilities of each partner for implementation of the applied sciences pathway program.

(4) Each spring, the program application, timeline, and eligibility criteria shall be made publicly available on the TEA website.

(5) TEA will notify each applicant of program approval or denial no later than July 31st following receipt of a complete application.

(6) TEA shall deny applications that:

(A) are submitted after the published deadline;

(B) are incomplete; or

(C) fail to meet the eligibility criteria.

(7) Once approved, a program shall retain approval status through the end of the 2030-2031 school year.

(d) Course substitutions.

(1) As part of the application process, a school system or its partner IHE shall request approval if the program wishes to substitute credit earned through successful completion of a college-level career and technical education (CTE) course offered by the partnering IHE for a credit required for high school graduation under TEC, §28.025. A request shall be submitted for each college-level CTE course proposed for substitution.

(2) The commissioner of education may approve a course substitution if TEA determines that the college-level CTE course substantially covers the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for the course being substituted.

(3) A request for course substitution must include documentation demonstrating the alignment between the college-level course and the TEKS for the course being substituted in a format prescribed by TEA.

(4) A CTE course approved for substitution under this subsection may not satisfy more than one credit toward graduation requirements or be counted in more than one subject area.

(5) Before enrolling a student in a college-level CTE course approved under this section, a school system shall determine that the student possesses the prerequisite knowledge and skills necessary to be successful in the course. A student is not required to complete a high school prerequisite course if the school system determines that the student has demonstrated the necessary prerequisite knowledge and skills.

(e) Program participation requirements.

(1) Before a student may earn substitute credit in English language arts, mathematics, science, or social studies, the student must perform satisfactorily on each applicable end-of-course assessment required for prior courses in the corresponding subject area within the school system's prescribed course sequence.

(2) For purposes of TEC, §48.005, time spent by a student participating in the program shall be included in the minimum instructional hours required for the student to be considered in average daily attendance.

(3) Participation in the program does not prohibit a student from enrolling in CTE courses or dual credit courses before entering the program.

(f) Expiration. This section expires September 1, 2031.

The agency certifies that legal counsel has reviewed the proposal and found it to be within the state agency's legal authority to adopt.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on October 26, 2026.

TRD-202604519

Cristina De La Fuente-Valadez

Director, Rulemaking

Texas Education Agency

Earliest possible date of adoption: December 6, 2026

For further information, please call: (512) 475-1497