HB 4980

relating to establishing the Child-Care Professional Pathway
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1.  Subchapter Z, Chapter 29, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 29.919 to read as follows:
Sec. 29.919.  CHILD-CARE PROFESSIONAL PATHWAY PROGRAM.  (a)
(1)  "Certificate program" and "institution of higher
education" have the meanings assigned by Section 61.003.
(2)  "Program" means the Child-Care Professional
Pathway program established under this section.
(b)  The commissioner shall establish and administer the
Child-Care Professional Pathway program to provide opportunities
for students to concurrently earn high school diplomas and
certificates from institutions of higher education.
(c)  The commissioner shall approve for participation in the
program partnerships between school districts or open-enrollment
charter schools and institutions of higher education to provide
courses in a non-duplicative sequence of progressive achievement
(1)  a high school diploma; and
(A)  a Child Development Associate certificate
program with a successful job placement rate in the field of
(B)  an associate degree in human development,
psychology, sociology, applied science in early childhood
education, or another discipline relevant to the field of
(d)  A partnership participating in the program must:
(1)  enable the school district or open-enrollment
charter school to provide at least one course of study described by
Subsection (c) through a partnership with an institution of higher
(2)  provide for a course of study described by
Subsection (c) that enables a participating student in grade level
(A)  enroll in a certificate or degree program
described by Subsection (c) at the partnering institution of higher
education under which the student may receive instruction from an
instructor employed by the institution and any appropriate
work-based learning opportunities from the institution and earn:
(i)  a Child Development Associate
(ii)  another credential, including a
certificate and associate degree that may be earned concurrently
under a hybrid program approved by commissioner rule; and
(B)  satisfy high school graduation requirements
and receive a high school diploma;
(3)  require the partnering school district or
open-enrollment charter school to permit all district or school
students in grade level 11 or 12 to enroll in a course of study
provided under Subdivision (2);
(4)  be governed by an articulation agreement between
the partnering school district or open-enrollment charter school
and institution of higher education; and
(5)  meet any other requirements established by
(e)  A course of study provided under the program must be
provided at no cost to the student.
(f)  The commissioner may approve the substitution of one
credit in a subject area required for high school graduation under
Section 28.025 with one credit in a child-care professional
education course provided by an institution of higher education
under the program that substantially covers the essential knowledge
and skills of the course for which it is substituted.
(g)  A child-care professional education course authorized
as a substitute credit under Subsection (f) may not count:
(1)  for more than one credit toward the student's high
school graduation requirements; or
(2)  as a credit for more than one subject area.
(h)  Time that a student spends participating in the program
is counted as part of the minimum number of instructional hours
required for a student to be considered a full-time student in
average daily attendance for purposes of Section 48.005.
(i)  Nothing in this section may be construed to prevent a
student's participation in child-care professional education
courses before the student begins participating in the program.
(j)  The commissioner shall adopt rules as necessary to
SECTION 2.  This Act applies beginning with the 2025-2026
SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2025.