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.