By Sibley S.B. No. 295
75R2871 ESH-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the evaluation and improvement of remedial academic
1-3 programs in public institutions of higher education.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Section 51.306, Education Code, is amended by
1-6 amending Subsection (k) and adding Subsections (x), (y), and (y-1)
1-7 to read as follows:
1-8 (k) Each institution shall report annually to the board, on
1-9 or before a day set by rule of the board, concerning the results of
1-10 the students being tested [and the effectiveness of the
1-11 institution's remedial program and advising program]. The report
1-12 shall identify by name the high school from which each tested
1-13 student graduated and a statement as to whether or not the
1-14 student's performance was above or below the standard. For the
1-15 purposes of this report, students shall not be identified by name.
1-16 (x) To receive funding under Subsection (h) an institution
1-17 must report on the effectiveness of the institution's remedial
1-18 program as required by the board. The report must:
1-19 (1) describe the institution's student population;
1-20 (2) describe the institution's strategies addressing
1-21 student need for adult education and basic workforce skills;
1-22 (3) evaluate the costs and success of the
1-23 institution's remedial program; and
1-24 (4) assess the effectiveness of tutoring, self-paced
2-1 learning, learning assistance centers, or other components of the
2-2 institution's remedial program.
2-3 (y) The board shall regularly evaluate the success of
2-4 remedial programs offered by all public institutions of higher
2-5 education. The evaluation must compare remedial education
2-6 approaches against student progress to identify the most successful
2-7 programs. The board shall provide institutions with a standard
2-8 model for evaluating remedial programs and shall provide technical
2-9 assistance to institutions during the evaluation process.
2-10 (y-1) The board shall conduct a detailed audit of
2-11 expenditures by public institutions of higher education of money
2-12 received for programs under Subsection (h) for the state fiscal
2-13 years beginning September 1, 1993, September 1, 1994, and September
2-14 1, 1995. The audit must include the 16 institutions that received
2-15 the most money for those programs and may include other
2-16 institutions. The state auditor shall provide staff to the board
2-17 to assist in conducting the audit. The board shall report the
2-18 results of the audit to the 76th Legislature not later than
2-19 February 1, 1999. This subsection expires September 1, 1999.
2-20 SECTION 2. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
2-21 shall conduct the first evaluation of remedial programs under
2-22 Section 51.306(y), Education Code, as added by this Act, not later
2-23 than September 1, 1998.
2-24 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.
2-25 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the
2-26 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-27 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
3-1 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
3-2 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.