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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of the Opportunity High School |
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Diploma pilot program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 130, Education Code, is amended by |
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adding Subchapter O to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER O. OPPORTUNITY HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA PILOT PROGRAM |
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Sec. 130.451. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: |
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(1) "Coordinating board" means the Texas Higher |
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Education Coordinating Board. |
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(2) "General academic teaching institution" has the |
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meaning assigned by Section 61.003. |
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(3) "Pilot program" means the Opportunity High School |
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Diploma pilot program established under this subchapter. |
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Sec. 130.452. PURPOSE. The purpose of the pilot program is |
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to provide an alternative means by which adult students enrolled in |
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a workforce education program at a public junior college may earn a |
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high school diploma at the college through concurrent enrollment in |
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a competency-based education program that enables students to |
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demonstrate knowledge substantially equivalent to the knowledge |
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required to earn a high school diploma in this state. |
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Sec. 130.453. ADMINISTRATION. The coordinating board shall |
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administer the pilot program in consultation with the Texas |
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Education Agency and the Texas Workforce Commission. |
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Sec. 130.454. APPROVAL OF ALTERNATIVE HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA |
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PROGRAM. (a) A public junior college may submit to the |
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coordinating board an application to participate in the pilot |
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program. The application must propose an alternative |
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competency-based high school diploma program to be offered for |
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concurrent enrollment to adult students without a high school |
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diploma who are enrolled in a workforce education program at the |
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college. The proposed program may include any combination of |
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instruction, curriculum, achievement, internships, or other means |
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by which a student may attain knowledge sufficient to adequately |
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prepare the student for postsecondary education or additional |
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workforce education. |
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(b) The coordinating board may approve not more than five |
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public junior colleges to participate in the pilot program. |
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(c) Subject to Subsection (b), the coordinating board shall |
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review and approve a public junior college's application to |
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participate in the pilot program if the board determines that the |
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college's proposed program described by Subsection (a) will provide |
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instruction and assessments appropriate to ensure that a student |
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who successfully completes the program demonstrates levels of |
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knowledge sufficient to adequately prepare the student for |
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postsecondary education or additional workforce education. The |
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coordinating board may coordinate with the Texas Education Agency |
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as necessary to make a determination under this subsection. |
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(d) A public junior college approved to participate in the |
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pilot program may: |
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(1) enter into an agreement with one or more public |
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junior colleges, general academic teaching institutions, school |
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districts, or nonprofit organizations to offer the program |
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described by Subsection (a); and |
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(2) offer the program described by Subsection (a) at |
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any campus of the college or an entity with which the college has |
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entered into an agreement under Subdivision (1). |
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Sec. 130.455. AWARD OF HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA. (a) A public |
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junior college participating in the pilot program may award a high |
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school diploma to a student enrolled in the alternative |
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competency-based high school diploma program offered by the college |
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under the pilot program if the student performs satisfactorily on |
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assessment instruments prescribed by coordinating board rule. |
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(b) A high school diploma awarded under the pilot program is |
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equivalent to a high school diploma awarded under Section 28.025. |
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Sec. 130.456. FUNDING. (a) The coordinating board and the |
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Texas Workforce Commission shall coordinate to jointly identify |
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funding mechanisms, including grants, interagency contracts, |
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financial aid, or subsidies, available to public junior colleges |
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and students to encourage and facilitate participation in the pilot |
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program. |
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(b) A public junior college participating in the pilot |
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program is entitled to receive funding under Section 130.003 for |
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the pilot program in the manner provided by coordinating board |
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rule. |
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Sec. 130.457. REPORT. Not later than December 1, 2026, the |
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coordinating board shall submit to the legislature a report on the |
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effectiveness of the pilot program. The report must include a |
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recommendation regarding whether the pilot program should be |
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continued, expanded, or terminated. |
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Sec. 130.458. RULES. The coordinating board may adopt |
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rules as necessary to implement this subchapter. |
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Sec. 130.459. EXPIRATION. This subchapter expires |
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September 1, 2027. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |