BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 1277

By: West

Higher Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Almost 200,000 high school students in Texas enroll in dual credit courses each year. However, research has shown that dual credit coursework does not always contribute to positive student outcomes such as postsecondary degree completion, accelerated graduation, or reduced student debt because students often lack the guidance and support they need to make proper decisions about dual credit and ensure their participation yields good final results. It has been suggested that targeted student advising could help to ensure that students have the resources and guidance they need to enroll in courses that are closely aligned with higher education pathways and to succeed academically in the courses in which they are enrolled. Specifically, these advisors could help students with course selection, registration, and determining whether they are ready for college-level coursework. S.B. 1277 seeks to address this issue by providing for academic advising to students enrolled in a dual credit course before the student begins the course.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

S.B. 1277 amends the Education Code to require any agreement between a public school district and public institution of higher education providing for a dual credit program to designate at least one employee of the district or institution as responsible for providing academic advising to a student who enrolls in a dual credit course under the program before the student begins the course. This requirement applies to an agreement entered into or renewed on or after September 1, 2021.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2021.