(a) General requirements. This course is recommended for students in Grades 11 and 12. The practicum course is a paid or unpaid capstone experience for students participating in a coherent sequence of courses in the Government and Public Administration Career Cluster. Students shall be awarded two credits 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.     
      (b) 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 Government and Public Administration Career Cluster focuses on planning and performing governmental functions at the local, state, and federal levels, including governance, national security, foreign service, planning, revenue and taxation, and regulations.       
        (3) Students in the Practicum in Local, State, and Federal Government will concurrently learn advanced concepts of political science and government workings in the classroom setting and in the workplace. In addition, students will apply technical skills pertaining to government and public administration in a direct mentorship by individuals in professional settings such as government, public management and administration, national security, municipal planning, foreign service, revenue, taxation, and regulation.       
        (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.       
      (c) Knowledge and skills.      
        (1) The student demonstrates professional standards/employability skills as required by business and industry. The student is expected to:                  (A) communicate effectively with others using oral and written skills;                   (B) demonstrate collaboration skills through teamwork;                   (C) demonstrate professionalism by conducting oneself in a manner appropriate for the profession and workplace;                   (D) demonstrate a positive, productive work ethic by performing assigned tasks as directed;                   (E) show integrity by choosing the ethical course of action and complying with all applicable rules, laws, and regulations; and                   (F) demonstrate time-management skills by prioritizing tasks, following schedules, and tending to goal-relevant activities in a way that uses time wisely and optimizes efficiency and results.         
        (2) The student analyzes classical and modern political theories. The student is expected to:                  (A) review the works of theorists such as Plato, Aristotle, Cicero, Machiavelli, Confucius, Hobbes, Locke, Hegel, and Marx; and                   (B) analyze contributions to modern political science from classical theorists such as Polybius, St. Thomas Aquinas, Dante, Bodin, Montesquieu, Kautilya, Ibn Khaldun, Hume, Rousseau, Kant, Smith, Nietzsche, Gandhi, and Keynes.         
        (3) The student analyzes the U.S. Constitution and constitutional law. The student is expected to:                  (A) review basic information related to the U.S. Constitution such as the Articles of Confederation, framers of the Constitution, constitutional conventions, separation of powers, checks and balances, ratification, and the amendment process; and                   (B) create a classroom Constitution and Bill of Rights simulating the U.S. Constitution.         
        (4) The student explores government ethics. The student is expected to formulate a plan for avoiding ethical problems in the future.       
        (5) The student conducts a project using analytical problem-solving techniques. The student is expected to:                  (A) research a problem such as a government and public administration issue, a feasibility study, or a product evaluation;                   (B) investigate the issues associated with the problem;                   (C) collect primary data such as interviews, surveys, and observations;                   (D) express thoughts logically and sequentially in preparing a formal report;                   (E) interpret and present quantitative data in graph format within the report;                   (F) prepare visuals and handouts to support the presentation; and                   (G) make a final presentation of the study to the appropriate stakeholders.         
        (6) The student documents knowledge and skills attained in the practicum. The student is expected to:                  (A) update a professional portfolio to include recognitions, awards, scholarships, a resume, a sample of work, and an evaluation from the practicum supervisor; and                   (B) present the portfolio to interested stakeholders.         
     Source Note:        The provisions of this §127.647 adopted to be effective April 7, 2022, 47 TexReg 1677