BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 2294

By: Creighton

Higher Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

S.B. 1888, passed by the 87th Legislature, established the Texas First Early High School Completion Program, which allows public high school students who demonstrate early readiness for college to graduate early from high school. The bill also created the Texas First Scholarship Program to provide financial aid for students who graduate through the Texas First Early High School Completion program. According to the legislation, the purpose of these programs is to promote efficiency in the state public education system and incentivize the enrollment of high-performing students at eligible institutions of higher education. Currently, only institutions designated as research universities or emerging research universities may participate in the Texas First program. While excellent institutions, not all students may be seeking a postsecondary experience at a large-enrollment research institution, which may also be a far distance from home, and some may wish to pursue a credential at another public university, state college, technical institute, or junior college. S.B. 2294 expands the list of institutions eligible to participate in Texas First to include all public institutions of higher education in Texas. 

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. 2294 amends the Education Code to expand the types of institutions of higher education eligible to participate in the Texas First Early High School Completion Program and in the Texas First Scholarship Program from only an institution of higher education designated as a research university or emerging research university under the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's accountability system to any public institution of higher education. The bill changes the authorization for a public school district or open-enrollment charter school to issue a high school diploma to a student under the Texas First Early High School Completion Program if the student meets the prescribed standards to a requirement for a district or charter school to allow a student to graduate and receive a high school diploma under the program if the student meets the standards.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2023.