SRC-ARR S.B. 1601 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1601
76R5869 CAG-DBy: Shapiro
Higher Education
4/16/1999
As Filed


DIGEST 

According to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (board) study in
1985, an estimated 30 percent of students entering college could not read,
write, or compute well enough to perform effectively in college, and
consequently, some of those students were dropping out. In 1987, the
legislature created the Texas Academic Skills Program (TASP) as an early
assessment and academic support program for all students entering public
higher education institutions in the state. As part of the TASP statute,
Texas colleges and universities must offer remedial classes for students
who do not pass one or more sections of the test. Remedial education is not
producing the desired outcomes because colleges have no incentives to
improve the programs based on current funding methods. S.B. 1601 would
require the board to allocate all general revenue appropriations for
remedial education to higher education institutions using a
performance-based funding approach. 
 
PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 1601 sets forth the operation of and the method for
funding developmental education  programs provided by institutions of
higher education. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is granted to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating
Board in SECTION 1 (Section 51.3062(b), Chapter 51F, Education Code) of
this bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 51F, Education Code, by adding Sections 51.3062
and 51.3063, as follows: 

Sec. 51.3062. REGULATION OF DEVELOPMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS. Defines
"board" and "institution of higher education." Requires the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board (board ) to adopt rules that ensure the
program quality and effectiveness of developmental education programs
offered by an institution of higher education under Section 51.306. Sets
forth requirements for the rules. Requires the board to regularly evaluate
the rules to ensure that effective developmental education programs are
being provided by an institution and that an institution's programs reflect
any effective educational strategy of developmental education best
practices identified by the board. Requires the board to report annually to
the legislature and the comptroller information relating to the
effectiveness of developmental education programs, including the number of
students at each institution who complete a developmental education program
under Section 51.306.  

Sec. 51.3063. FUNDING FORMULAS FOR DEVELOPMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS.
Defines "board" and "institution of higher education." Requires the board
in the same manner as the board develops and proposes formulas under
Section 61.059, to develop formulas recommending institutional funding for
developmental education programs described in Section 51.306(f). Sets forth
required provisions for the board in developing a formula under this
section.  

SECTION 2. Requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to adopt
rules and design any funding formula, provided by this Act, not later than
March 1, 2000, and submit the final report  as added by this Act, not later
than February 1, 2000.  

SECTION 3. Emergency clause.
                      Effective date: upon passage.