Texas education agencies must jointly create and maintain a list of eligible industry certifications, review it regularly, and give advance notice before removing a certification when feasible.
Sec. 39.0531. INDUSTRY CERTIFICATION LIST. (a) The agency, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, and the Texas Workforce Commission shall jointly develop and make available a list of industry certifications that are eligible for purposes of Section 39.053(c)(1)(B)(v). In developing the list, the entities described by this subsection shall consider: (1) the inventory of industry-recognized certifications developed under Section 312.003, Labor Code; and (2) the certifications included in the credential library established under Section 2308A.007, Government Code. (a-1) For purposes of Subsection (a), the agency's provision of a proposed list or a modified proposed list of industry certifications to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the Texas Workforce Commission satisfies the requirement under that subsection to jointly develop a list of industry certifications, unless the board or commission submits to the agency revisions to the proposed list or modified proposed list on or before the 90th day after the date the agency provides the proposed list or modified proposed list to the board or commission. (b) The industry certifications included in the list developed under Subsection (a) must: (1) be aligned to a program of study that, according to labor market data, prepares students for high-wage, high-skill, in-demand occupations; (2) allow students to demonstrate mastery of the skills required for occupations within an approved program of study; (3) be obtained through an assessment of the knowledge and skills provided by or determined by an independent, third-party certifying entity using predetermined standards for knowledge, skills, and competencies; and (4) for a postsecondary credential, be a credential of value, as designated by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board for purposes of Section 130A.101(c)(1). (c) The entities described by Subsection (a) shall regularly review and, if necessary, update the eligibility of industry certifications under that subsection, including whether the programs of study for those certifications still meet the requirements under Subsections (a) and (b): (1) in consultation with the advisory council established under Chapter 312, Labor Code; and (2) to the extent practicable, concurrently with the modification of performance standards under Section 39.053(f-1). (d) If, after reviewing an industry certification under Subsection (c), the entities described by Subsection (a) determine the certification is no longer eligible for purposes of Section 39.053(c)(1)(B)(v) and should be removed from the list developed under Subsection (a), the entities shall, to the extent practicable, post on their respective Internet websites information regarding the removal of the certification not later than two years before the date the entities intend to remove the certification from the list. (e) During the three years following a determination under Subsection (d) that an industry certification is no longer eligible for purposes of Section 39.053(c)(1)(B)(v), a school district may receive the benefit of achievement indicators based on that industry certification for purposes of Section 39.053(c) only for a cohort of students who: (1) were participating in the program of study aligned with that certification during the school year the agency determines the certification is no longer eligible; and (2) earn the certification within the three-year period. Added by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., 2nd C.S., Ch. 6 (H.B. 8), Sec. 2.004, eff. December 4, 2025.