SECTION 127.278. Extended Practicum in Entrepreneurship (One Credit), Adopted 2023

(a) Implementation. The provisions of this section shall be implemented by school districts beginning with the 2024-2025 school year.

(b) General requirements. This course is recommended for students in Grades 11 and 12. The practicum course is a paid or an unpaid capstone experience for students participating in a coherent sequence of career and technical education (CTE) courses in the Marketing Career Cluster. Recommended prerequisites: Entrepreneurship I and Entrepreneurship II or successful completion of at least two courses in a CTE program of study. Corequisite: Practicum in Entrepreneurship. This course must be taken concurrently with Practicum in Entrepreneurship and may not be taken as a stand-alone course. Students shall be awarded one credit 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.

(c) 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) This course can serve in multiple CTE programs of study, as it focuses on planning, managing, organizing, directing, and evaluating business functions essential to efficient and productive business management, finance, operations, and marketing related to the student's industry focus.

(3) Extended Practicum in Entrepreneurship provides students the opportunity to apply classroom learning and experiences to real-world business problems and opportunities in a free enterprise system while expanding their skill sets and professional relationships as a real or simulated business owner versus the experience one would have as an employee. Students will prepare for an entrepreneurial career in their area of interest in their career cluster and build on and apply the knowledge and skills gained from courses taken in an array of career areas. Practicum experiences occur in a paid or an unpaid arrangement and a variety of locations appropriate to the nature and level of the student's need for work-based learning experience. Students implement personal and interpersonal skills to strengthen individual performance in the workplace and in society and to make a successful transition to the workforce or postsecondary education. It is recommended that students are paired with local business owners or employers in their specific industry program of study.

(4) Students are encouraged to participate in extended learning experiences such as career and technical student organizations, local chamber of commerce meetings, and meetings with entrepreneurs, mentors, or industry experts.

(5) Students are encouraged to transition from the idea phase to action and implementation of a business, including validation through sales in a real or simulated scenario.

(6) 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.

(d) Knowledge and skills.

(1) The student demonstrates professional standards/employability skills as required by business and industry. The student is expected to:

(A) participate in a paid or an unpaid, laboratory- or work-based application of previously studied knowledge and skills related to entrepreneurship;

(B) participate in training, education, or preparation for licensure, certification, or other relevant credentials to prepare for employment;

(C) demonstrate professional standards and personal qualities needed to succeed as an entrepreneur such as diligence, perseverance, self-discipline, integrity, customer service, work ethic, and adaptability with increased fluency;

(D) demonstrate use of business information management tools with increased fluency for relevant projects;

(E) employ teamwork and conflict-management skills with increased fluency to achieve collective goals; and

(F) employ planning and time-management skills and tools with increased fluency to enhance results and complete work tasks.

(2) The student applies professional communications strategies. The student is expected to:

(A) demonstrate proper use of written, verbal, and visual communication techniques with increased proficiency;

(B) apply active listening skills to obtain and clarify information;

(C) create and deliver formal and informal presentations effectively;

(D) analyze, interpret, and effectively communicate information; and

(E) exhibit positive customer/client communication skills to maintain effective internal and external business relationships.

(3) The student implements advanced problem-solving methods. The student is expected to:

(A) employ critical-thinking skills with increased fluency both independently and in groups to solve problems and make decisions;

(B) conduct technical research to gather information necessary for decision making; and

(C) analyze elements of a problem to develop creative and innovative solutions.

(4) The student understands and applies proper safety and security techniques in the workplace. The student is expected to:

(A) demonstrate understanding of and consistently follow workplace safety rules and regulations; and

(B) adhere to technology safety and cybersecurity policies such as acceptable use policy and webpage policies.

(5) The student understands the ethical and legal responsibilities in entrepreneurship. The student is expected to:

(A) apply appropriate responses to workplace situations based on personal or professional ethical responsibilities;

(B) demonstrate integrity by choosing the ethical course of action when making decisions; and

(C) comply with all applicable rules, laws, and regulations for the selected industry.

(6) The student participates in an entrepreneurial experience. The student is expected to:

(A) conduct, document, and evaluate learning activities in a supervised experience;

(B) develop advanced technical knowledge and skills related to the student's occupational objective;

(C) demonstrate use of information technology tools to manage and perform work responsibilities;

(D) create customary styles of documents such as memoranda, letters, emails, and reports, as appropriate, to an industry of choice;

(E) apply the elements and processes of entrepreneurship to grow a business idea and meet customer expectations;

(F) demonstrate growth of technical skill competencies;

(G) evaluate strengths and weaknesses in technical skill proficiency; and

(H) collect representative work samples.

Source Note: The provisions of this §127.278 adopted to be effective February 13, 2024, 49 TexReg 696