Amends TCA Title 49.

This bill revises the following present law provisions relative to career and technical education (CTE): <br /> <br /> (1) Present law encourages the department of education to begin preparing students in middle school grades for a CTE pathway by introducing students to career exploration opportunities that allow students to explore a wide variety of high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand career fields. This bill makes this provision mandatory instead of discretionary;<br /> <br /> (2) Present law encourages the department to: provide career exploration and career development activities through an organized, systematic framework designed to aid students in the middle school grades, before enrolling and while participating in a CTE program, in making informed plans and decisions about future education and career opportunities and programs of study; and provide professional development opportunities for teachers and faculty related to CTE for students in middle school grades. This bill makes these provisions mandatory instead of discretionary; and <br /> <br /> (3) Present law requires LEAs to administer a career aptitude assessment to students in grade seven or grade eight in order to help inform a student's high school plan of study. This bill adds that, upon administering the assessment an LEA must provide the students with information on CTE opportunities offered by the LEA in which the student is eligible to participate. <br />