(a) The list of certifications provided in this subsection will be recognized for the purpose of accounting for students who earn industry certifications in the public school accountability system for the 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 school years.
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(b) Beginning in the 2019-2020 school year, the list of certifications provided in the annual accountability manual adopted as a figure in §97.1001 of this title (relating to Accountability Rating System) will be recognized for the purpose of accounting for students who earn industry certifications in the public school accountability system.
(c) The list of industry-based certifications to be used in the public school accountability system shall be reviewed and updated every two years beginning in 2021.
(d) Beginning in the 2022-2023 school year, certifications recognized for the purpose of public school accountability shall meet the following criteria.
  (1) Certification. A certification is defined as a validation or license that indicates an individual possesses certain industry-specific skills and that meets two or more of the following criteria:
    (A) the certification is related to the performance requirements of a career or occupation, measured against a set of industry-accepted standards, and not dependent upon a particular curriculum or program;
    (B) the certification is earned by successfully completing an assessment that demonstrates an individual's proficiency of the prescribed standards; or
    (C) the certification is a time-limited credential that must be maintained through ongoing professional training and/or testing requirements.
  (2) Industry recognized and valued.
    (A) A certification is industry recognized and valued if the certification is:
      (i) referred to the Texas Education Agency (TEA):
        (I) by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) as part of the inventory of industry-recognized credentials approved by the industry-based certification advisory council authorized by Texas Labor Code, §312.002; or
        (II) directly using a process identified and implemented by TEA and published on the TEA website if the certification is not referred to TEA by TWC under subclause (I) of this clause; and
      (ii) determined to be valued by a representative sample of employers, as demonstrated in at least one of the following ways:
        (I) inclusion of the certification in job postings as required or highly recommended;
        (II) use of the certification as a factor in selecting candidates for an interview or for hire; or
        (III) offer of higher pay for individuals who possess the certification.
    (B) If a determination of value under subparagraph (A)(ii) of this paragraph is not made prior to referral under subparagraph (A)(i)(I) of this paragraph, TEA may use a third-party organization with expertise in gathering information from employers related to the value of industry-based certifications to directly contact groups of employers and report to TEA regarding whether the standards under subparagraph (A)(ii) of this paragraph have been met.
  (3) Attainable by a high school student. All eligibility requirements such as age and experience can be met and the certification awarded before or within the summer after a student's high school graduation.
  (4) Portable. The certification can:
    (A) be transferred seamlessly to postsecondary work through acceptance for credit or hours in core program courses at an institution of higher education;
    (B) be counted toward hours in an aligned apprenticeship program;
    (C) be part of a prescribed coherent sequence of industry-recognized credentials to show progressive skills development; or
    (D) support employment in more than one region of the state.
  (5) Certifying entity. The assessment of the knowledge and skills required to obtain the certification is provided by or determined by an independent, third-party certifying entity using predetermined standards for knowledge, skills, and competencies.
  (6) Capstone or end-of-program. A certification assessment is taken at the culmination of a single high school course or multiple related courses within a secondary program of study. There must be at least 50% overlap between the certification assessment standards and:
    (A) the essential knowledge and skills for a secondary course aligned to the career cluster associated with the certification assessment; or
    (B) the applicable essential knowledge and skills for a set of courses within a program of study in a secondary career and technical education program.

Source Note: The provisions of this §74.1003 adopted to be effective January 3, 2018, 42 TexReg 7686; amended to be effective August 23, 2020, 45 TexReg 5640; amended to be effective January 9, 2022, 46 TexReg 9286