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Senate Bill 1888 |
Senate Author: Creighton |
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Effective: 6-18-21 |
House Sponsor: Parker et al. |
Senate Bill 1888 amends the Education Code to provide for the expansion and renaming of a certain early college readiness pilot program as the Texas First early high school completion program. The bill requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) to establish program standards regarding specific competencies to demonstrate a student's mastery in applicable subject areas and acceptable assessments for demonstrating early college readiness. The bill authorizes a public school district or open‑enrollment charter school to issue a high school diploma to a student who meets the program's standards, notwithstanding any other local or state requirements.
Senate Bill 1888 establishes the Texas First scholarship program, under which a Texas resident who graduates early under the Texas First early high school completion program and meets other criteria is awarded state credit applicable to tuition, mandatory fees, and attendance costs at a public research university or emerging research university. The bill provides for the distribution to high school students and their parents of specified information on the Texas First programs established by the bill. The bill repeals provisions relating to the early high school graduation scholarship program. Implementation of a provision of the bill by the Texas Education Agency or the THECB is mandatory only if a specific appropriation is made for that purpose.