1. (a) Implementation.

   1. (1) The provisions of this section shall be implemented by school districts beginning with the 2017-2018 school year.
   2. (2) School districts shall implement the employability skills student expectations listed in §127.15(d)(2) of this chapter (relating to Career and Technical Education Employability Skills) as an integral part of this course.
2. (b) General requirements. This course is recommended for students in Grades 10-12. Recommended prerequisite: Principles of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources. Students shall be awarded two credits for successful completion of this course.

3. (c) Introduction.

   1. (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. (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. (3) Agricultural Power Systems is designed to develop an understanding of power and control systems as related to energy sources, small and large power systems, and agricultural machinery. To prepare for careers in agricultural power, structural, and technical systems, students must attain academic skills and knowledge; acquire technical knowledge and skills related to power, structural, and technical agricultural systems and the workplace; and develop knowledge and skills regarding career opportunities, entry requirements, industry certifications, and industry expectations. To prepare for success, students need opportunities to learn, reinforce, apply, and transfer their knowledge and technical skills in a variety of settings.
   4. (4) Students are encouraged to participate in extended learning experiences such as career and technical student organizations and other organizations that foster leadership and career development in the profession such as student chapters of related professional associations.
   5. (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.

4. (d) Knowledge and skills.

   1. (1) The student develops a supervised agriculture experience program. The student is expected to:

      1. (A) plan, propose, conduct, document, and evaluate a supervised agriculture experience program as an experiential learning activity;
      2. (B) apply proper record-keeping skills as they relate to the supervised agriculture experience;
      3. (C) participate in youth leadership opportunities to create a well-rounded experience program; and
      4. (D) produce and participate in a local program of activities using a strategic planning process.

   2. (2) The student connects power generation to differing energy sources. The student is expected to:

      1. (A) examine benefits and detriments of petroleum and alternative energy sources;
      2. (B) compare environmental impacts of varying energy sources;
      3. (C) compare efficiency and characteristics of different energy sources; and
      4. (D) investigate the efficiency of power generation systems that use various energy sources.

   3. (3) The student selects the appropriate tool to perform a given task related to agricultural power systems. The student is expected to:

      1. (A) select and identify standard tools, equipment, and safety procedures common to power and control applications;
      2. (B) follow operating instructions of specialized tools and equipment such as micrometers, digital multimeters, and dynamometers;
      3. (C) set up and adjust tools and equipment such as dynamometers, flow meters, torque wrenches, lathes, and mills;
      4. (D) maintain and store tools and equipment common to power and control applications; and
      5. (E) inventory tools and equipment in a service or maintenance facility.

   4. (4) The student selects, operates, and maintains small engines. The student is expected to:

      1. (A) describe principles of operation of internal combustion engines;
      2. (B) disassemble and reassemble small engines;
      3. (C) select, maintain, and troubleshoot small engines; and
      4. (D) research small engine industry certifications.

   5. (5) The student selects, operates, and maintains agricultural machines and equipment. The student is expected to:

      1. (A) identify and select agricultural equipment for appropriate tasks such as the selection of tillage equipment to obtain a desired result;
      2. (B) identify and maintain component materials such as bearings, hydraulic cylinders, seals, chains, and drives on varying types of machines and equipment;
      3. (C) ensure the presence and function of safety devices such as guards and shields and hardware on machinery and equipment;
      4. (D) calibrate metering, monitoring, and sensing equipment on various equipment such as tillage, harvest, transport, and haying equipment; and
      5. (E) perform pre-operation inspection and appropriate start-up procedures, identify causes of equipment malfunctions and failures, perform scheduled preventive maintenance, and safely operate equipment.

   6. (6) The student selects, operates, and maintains tractors and agricultural power systems. The student is expected to:

      1. (A) select tractors based upon application and power requirements and describe or perform safe operation of tractors in various applications;
      2. (B) maintain intake and exhaust system components, including shrouds, screens, filters, piping, after-coolers, air induction systems, manifolds, exhaust scrubbers, and mufflers;
      3. (C) select lubricants and apply appropriate lubrication as required by maintenance schedules;
      4. (D) identify and maintain various fuel systems, power trains, and hydraulic systems used on farm tractors;
      5. (E) explain charging, starting, operating, and igniting direct current electrical systems;
      6. (F) maintain steering and braking systems;
      7. (G) maintain tires and tracks and describe the role of ballasting and traction in farm tractors; and
      8. (H) explain the operation of and maintain liquid- and air-cooling systems in tractors.

   7. (7) The student monitors and controls electrical systems as related to agricultural machines and equipment. The student is expected to:

      1. (A) collect data and troubleshoot electrical systems using various meters and test equipment such as digital multimeters;
      2. (B) employ appropriate techniques for applying devices, controls, and grounding in electrical systems;
      3. (C) apply local and national codes and regulations relevant in electrical systems;
      4. (D) select and apply electric controls such as motor controls, switches, circuit breakers, timers, sensors, and relays; and
      5. (E) interpret data generated by electrical monitoring systems.

   8. (8) The student implements control systems related to agricultural machines and equipment. The student is expected to:

      1. (A) analyze schematic drawings for electrical control systems;
      2. (B) describe uses of various electrical control system components;
      3. (C) install control system components such as motor controls, switches, circuit breakers, timers, sensors, and relays and properly use appropriate tools, procedures, and safety practices; and
      4. (D) identify system performance problems and apply troubleshooting techniques using monitoring or troubleshooting devices.

   9. (9) The student describes hydraulic controls and applications as related to agricultural machines and equipment. The student is expected to:

      1. (A) describe the operation of open and closed center hydraulic systems;
      2. (B) explain the purpose and function of hydraulic controls such as valves, motors, pumps, cylinders, manifolds, and meters; and
      3. (C) create basic hydraulic circuits using a variety of hydraulic controls.

   10. (10) The student describes additional control systems as related to agricultural machines and equipment. The student is expected to:

       1. (A) explain the application of pneumatic systems and controls; and
       2. (B) explain the application of water or other fluid control systems to agricultural machines and equipment and their components.

Source Note:The provisions of this §127.44 adopted to be effective August 1, 2025, 50 TexReg 4421.