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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the adoption and use of certain performance indicators |
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to measure and evaluate career school or college programs. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 132, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 132.027 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 132.027. PERFORMANCE INDICATORS. (a) In this |
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section, "institution of higher education" has the meaning assigned |
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by Section 61.003. |
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(b) The commission shall adopt a set of performance |
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indicators for the purpose of measuring and evaluating career |
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schools or colleges and the quality of the learning and achievement |
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of students enrolled in programs operated by career schools or |
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colleges. The commission periodically shall review the indicators |
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and make appropriate revisions based on that review. |
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(c) The performance indicators adopted under Subsection (b) |
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must allow for the assessment of a career school or college program |
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with respect to: |
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(1) industry recognition of the program and the |
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corresponding value that industry attaches to the program and to |
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any certifications or licenses related to the program; |
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(2) the rate at which students are able to |
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successfully complete the program; |
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(3) the availability of a program-related |
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certification or license after a student completes the program; |
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(4) the likelihood that a certification or license |
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related to the program will: |
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(A) lead to postsecondary work, an |
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apprenticeship program, or established industry credentials; or |
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(B) support employment in this state; |
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(5) whether a program-related certification or |
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license will be awarded by an independent third-party organization |
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using predetermined standards for knowledge, skills, and |
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competencies; |
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(6) the inclusion of accepted best practices for the |
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program that align to best practices contained in: |
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(A) widely accepted industry standards; or |
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(B) standards established by an independent |
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third-party organization with expertise in gathering information |
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from employers related to the value attached to any certifications |
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or licenses related to the program; and |
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(7) for a nursing education program, whether the |
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program has resulted in a decrease in the number of clinical |
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practice positions available to students enrolled in nursing |
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programs in institutions of higher education in the region in which |
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the program is offered. |
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(d) The commission shall: |
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(1) develop a methodology for determining the minimum |
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acceptable standards for a career school or college based on the |
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performance indicators adopted under Subsection (b); |
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(2) evaluate annually between 15 and 20 percent of |
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career school and college programs in this state for compliance |
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with the minimum acceptable standards described by Subdivision (1); |
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and |
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(3) coordinate with the Texas Board of Nursing and |
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other appropriate state agencies in implementing and administering |
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this section. |
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(e) A career school or college offering a program that fails |
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to meet the minimum standards developed under Subsection (d) is |
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ineligible to: |
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(1) enter into a contract with a local workforce |
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development board with respect to that program; or |
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(2) obtain nursing clinical practice positions in this |
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state until the career school or college provides evidence |
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satisfactory to the commission and the Texas Board of Nursing that a |
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nursing education program offered by the career school or college |
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will not result in a decrease in the number of nursing clinical |
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practice positions available to students enrolled in nursing |
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programs in institutions of higher education in the region in which |
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the program is offered. |
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(f) Not later than September 1 of each year, the commission |
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shall publish a list of each career school and college program that |
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has been reviewed by the commission and that meets the minimum |
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acceptable standards developed under Subsection (d). |
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(g) Rules adopted by the commission under Section 132.021 |
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must include rules for the periodic review of performance |
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indicators. |
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(h) On request by the commission, the Texas Board of Nursing |
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and other appropriate state agencies shall coordinate with the |
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commission for purposes of Subsection (d)(3), including by |
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providing available data or other information to the commission. |
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SECTION 2. Not later than September 1, 2025, the Texas |
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Workforce Commission shall publish the initial list required under |
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Section 132.027(f), Education Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |
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