SRC-ARR C.S.S.B. 237 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 237
76R3475 BDH-DBy: Ellis
Education
2/25/1999
Committee Report (Substituted)


DIGEST 

Currently, Texas law does not provide public school students and parents
with information about higher education and financial aid opportunities.
College course counseling and advising for high school and middle school
students will give them the understanding of what is needed to go to
college.  C.S.S.B. 237 would require each school district to establish
strategies to provide students and parents information about higher
education, including financial aid and scholarship opportunities. 
 
PURPOSE

As proposed, C.S.S.B. 237 provides public school students and their parents
with information about higher education and financial aid opportunities.   

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 11.252(a), Education Code, to require a school
improvement plan to provide strategies for middle school, junior high
school, and high school students information about higher education,
including financial aid opportunities. Makes conforming changes. 

SECTION 2. Amends Section 21.451(a), Education Code, to require staff
development minimum standards to include guidelines for the cooperation of
principals, counselors, and teachers to provide middle school, junior high
school, and high school students and those students' parents with
information about higher education, including financial aid opportunities. 

SECTION 3. Amends Chapter 61C, Education Code, by adding Section 61.085, as
follows: 

Sec. 61.085. INFORMATION RELATING TO HIGHER EDUCATION PROVIDED TO PUBLIC
SCHOOL STUDENTS. Requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, in
cooperation with institutions of higher education and school districts, to
provide information relating to higher education, including financial aid
opportunities, to middle school, junior high school, and high school
students. Requires the strategies under this section to be responsive to
strategies adopted by school districts under Section 11.252(a)(4) to assist
school districts in carrying out the adopted strategies. Authorizes the
board to designate an institution of higher education or other entity with
appropriate facilities and resources for developing strategies to provide
the higher education information.  

SECTION 4. Provides that this Act applies beginning with the 1999-2000
school year. 

SECTION 5. Emergency clause.
           Effective date: upon passage.




 SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES

SECTION 3. 

 Amends Chapter 61C, Education Code, by adding Section 61.085, as follows:

Sec. 61.085. INFORMATION RELATING TO HIGHER EDUCATION PROVIDED TO PUBLIC
SCHOOL STUDENTS. Requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, in
cooperation with institutions of higher education and school districts, to
provide information relating to higher education, including financial aid
opportunities, to middle school, junior high school, and high school
students. Requires the strategies under this section to be responsive to
strategies adopted by school districts under Section 11.252(a)(4) to assist
school districts in carrying out the adopted strategies. Authorizes the
board to designate an institution of higher education or other entity with
appropriate facilities and resources for developing strategies to provide
the higher education information.