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)(1) 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: Touch System Data Entry. Students shall be awarded one-half credit 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 Business, Marketing, and Finance Career Cluster focuses on planning, managing, organizing, directing, and evaluating business functions essential to efficient and productive business management, finance, operations, and marketing.
   3. (3) Virtual Business is designed for students to start a virtual business by creating a web presence, conducting online and off-line marketing, examining contracts appropriate for an online business, and demonstrating project-management skills. Students will also demonstrate bookkeeping skills for a virtual business, maintain business records, and understand legal issues associated with a virtual business.
   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 analyzes an overview of starting and growing a virtual business office. The student is expected to:

      1. (A) identify the nature, history, and duties of a virtual business office;
      2. (B) list benefits afforded to virtual business clients;
      3. (C) assess personality characteristics to determine suitability for being a self-employed virtual business office employee;
      4. (D) inventory skills, interests, strengths, and weaknesses to determine appropriate services to offer;
      5. (E) prepare a business plan, including the following sections: executive summary, mission statement, long- and short-term goals, marketing plan, financial plan, and organizational plan; and
      6. (F) examine global business considerations.

   2. (2) The student demonstrates online and off-line marketing, including establishing a web presence. The student is expected to:

      1. (A) create and design a website for a virtual business office;
      2. (B) describe details of setting up a virtual business office;
      3. (C) determine appropriate marketing of a virtual business office;
      4. (D) describe steps to successfully market a virtual business office; and
      5. (E) participate in leadership and career development activities.

   3. (3) The student develops contracts appropriate for virtual business office services provided. The student is expected to:

      1. (A) research details of setting up a virtual business office;
      2. (B) determine particulars of communicating with clients locally and remotely; and
      3. (C) set appropriate fees for virtual business office services provided.

   4. (4) The student establishes pricing, billing, and collections procedures. The student is expected to:

      1. (A) research pricing and billing practices of a virtual business office;
      2. (B) research appropriate recordkeeping and tax issues;
      3. (C) apply fundamental bookkeeping skills for a virtual business office;
      4. (D) define appropriate bookkeeping terminology such as accounts payable, accounts receivable, income, expense, asset, liability, profit, balance sheet, and income statement; and
      5. (E) prepare appropriate bookkeeping statements, including basic balance sheet and income statement.

   5. (5) The student describes legal and tax issues related to running a virtual business office. The student is expected to:

      1. (A) determine local licensing requirements required for a virtual business office;
      2. (B) set up a virtual business office;
      3. (C) research support resources for a virtual business; and
      4. (D) describe the advantages and disadvantages of the various forms of legal construction of a virtual business office.

   6. (6) The student maintains business records to facilitate management. The student is expected to:

      1. (A) describe the nature of business records needs for a virtual business office; and
      2. (B) maintain customer records.

   7. (7) The student acquires information to analyze business decision making. The student is expected to:

      1. (A) monitor internal records for business information; and
      2. (B) conduct an environment scan to obtain business information and interpret statistical findings.

   8. (8) The student demonstrates project-management skills to improve workflow and minimize costs. The student is expected to:

      1. (A) initiate a project, which includes identifying resources needed for a project;
      2. (B) develop a project plan;
      3. (C) execute a project;
      4. (D) monitor and control a project, including coordinating work with that of team members; and
      5. (E) close a project.

Source Note:The provisions of this §127.249 adopted to be effective August 1, 2025, 50 TexReg 4421.