(a) General requirements. This course is recommended for students in Grades 11 and 12 as a corequisite course for students participating in a coherent sequence of career and technical education courses in the Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources Career Cluster. This course provides an enhancement opportunity for students to develop the additional skills necessary to pursue industry certification. Recommended prerequisite: a minimum of one credit from the courses in the Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources Career Cluster. Corequisite: any course in the Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources Career Cluster, excluding Principles of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources. This course must be taken concurrently with a corequisite course from the Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources Career Cluster and may not be taken as a stand-alone course. Districts are encouraged to offer this lab in a consecutive block with the corequisite course to allow students sufficient time to master the content of both courses. Students shall be awarded one credit for successful completion of this course.
(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 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) Agricultural Laboratory and Field Experience is designed to provide students a laboratory and/or field experience opportunity. To prepare for careers in agriculture, food, and natural resources, students must acquire knowledge and skills that meet entry requirements and industry expectations. To prepare for success, students need opportunities to learn, reinforce, apply, and transfer academic knowledge and technical skills 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.
(c) Knowledge and skills.
  (1) The student demonstrates professional standards/employability skills as required by business and industry. The student is expected to:
    (A) investigate career development and entrepreneurship opportunities in agriculture, food, and natural resources;
    (B) apply competencies related to resources, information, and interpersonal skills;
    (C) practice personal and occupational health and safety practices in the workplace;
    (D) examine employer expectations and exhibit appropriate work habits;
    (E) develop good characteristics of citizenship, including advocacy, stewardship, and community leadership; and
    (F) pursue appropriate licensing, certification, and credentialing requirements.
  (2) The student uses technology to research a project. The student is expected to:
    (A) effectively use search engines, databases, and other digital electronic tools to locate information;
    (B) evaluate quality, accuracy, completeness, reliability, and currency of information from any source;
    (C) prepare, organize, present, and apply independent research; and
    (D) accept constructive criticism and revise personal views when warranted by valid evidence.
  (3) The student develops an elevated aptitude for the essential knowledge and skills listed for the corequisite course. The student is expected to:
    (A) demonstrate deeper understanding of the corequisite course;
    (B) develop mastery of hands-on skills at an industry-accepted standard; and
    (C) exhibit progress toward achieving industry-recognized documentation of specific expertise in an agriculture, food, and natural resources field or skill.

Source Note: The provisions of this §130.30 adopted to be effective August 28, 2017, 40 TexReg 9123