1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to assisting prospective students in enrolling in
1-3 institutions of higher education.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 29, Education Code, is
1-6 amended by adding Section 29.903 to read as follows:
1-7 Sec. 29.903. PLAN TO INCREASE ENROLLMENT IN INSTITUTIONS OF
1-8 HIGHER EDUCATION. (a) This section applies only to a school
1-9 district with one or more high schools that:
1-10 (1) during the preceding five years, have had an
1-11 average of at least 26 students in the high school graduating
1-12 class; and
1-13 (2) for any two consecutive years during the preceding
1-14 five years, have been among the lowest 10 percent of high schools
1-15 in this state in the percentage of students graduating from the
1-16 high school and enrolling for the following academic year in an
1-17 institution of higher education.
1-18 (b) The agency and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating
1-19 Board shall collaborate in identifying each school district to
1-20 which this section applies. Not later than May 1 of each year:
1-21 (1) the agency shall notify a district to which this
1-22 section applies of the applicability of this section to the
1-23 district unless the district is operating under a plan required by
1-24 this section; and
2-1 (2) the coordinating board shall notify each public
2-2 institution of higher education in this state in closest geographic
2-3 proximity to a district to which this section applies of the
2-4 applicability of this section to the district unless the district
2-5 is operating under a plan required by this section.
2-6 (c) Except as otherwise provided by this subsection, not
2-7 later than August 1 of the year in which a school district receives
2-8 notice under Subsection (b), the district shall enter into an
2-9 agreement with the public institution of higher education in this
2-10 state in closest geographic proximity to the district to develop a
2-11 plan to increase the percentage of the district's graduating
2-12 seniors who enroll in an institution of higher education for the
2-13 academic year following graduation. The public institution of
2-14 higher education in this state in closest geographic proximity to
2-15 the district shall enter into an agreement under this subsection
2-16 unless that institution of higher education or the district
2-17 recruits another public institution of higher education in this
2-18 state to enter into that agreement. A district and the public
2-19 institution of higher education entering into the agreement with
2-20 the district may also enter into an agreement with one or more
2-21 other public institutions of higher education in this state to
2-22 participate in developing the plan.
2-23 (d) A plan developed under this section:
2-24 (1) must establish clear, achievable goals for
2-25 increasing the percentage of the school district's graduating
2-26 seniors, particularly the graduating seniors attending a high
2-27 school described by Subsection (a), who enroll in an institution of
3-1 higher education for the academic year following graduation;
3-2 (2) must establish an accurate method of measuring
3-3 progress toward the goals established under Subdivision (1) that
3-4 may include the percentage of district high school students and the
3-5 percentage of students attending a district high school described
3-6 by Subsection (a) who:
3-7 (A) are enrolled in a course for which a student
3-8 may earn college credit, such as an advanced placement or
3-9 international baccalaureate course or a course offered through
3-10 concurrent enrollment in high school and at an institution of
3-11 higher education;
3-12 (B) are enrolled in courses that meet the
3-13 curriculum requirements for the recommended or advanced high school
3-14 program as determined under Section 28.025;
3-15 (C) have submitted a free application for
3-16 federal student aid (FAFSA);
3-17 (D) are exempt under Section 51.306(l) or (m)
3-18 from administration of a test instrument under Section 51.306 or
3-19 have performed successfully on a test instrument under Section
3-20 51.306;
3-21 (E) graduate from high school;
3-22 (F) graduate from an institution of higher
3-23 education; and
3-24 (G) have taken college entrance examinations and
3-25 the average score of those students on the examinations;
3-26 (3) must cover a period of at least five years; and
3-27 (4) may be directed at district students at any level
4-1 of primary or secondary education.
4-2 (e) A school district shall file the plan with the
4-3 commissioner of education and the commissioner of higher education.
4-4 (f) A school district must implement the plan at the
4-5 beginning of the school year following the year during which the
4-6 district receives notice under Subsection (b).
4-7 (g) A school district may revise the plan as necessary in
4-8 response to achieving or failing to achieve goals under the plan.
4-9 SECTION 2. Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is
4-10 amended by adding Section 61.088 to read as follows:
4-11 Sec. 61.088. HIGHER EDUCATION ASSISTANCE PILOT PROGRAM. (a)
4-12 The board shall administer and coordinate the Higher Education
4-13 Assistance Pilot Program to:
4-14 (1) provide to prospective students in three areas of
4-15 this state with the highest number of students who do not attend
4-16 institutions of higher education, as determined by the board,
4-17 information related to enrollment in public or private or
4-18 independent institutions of higher education, including admissions
4-19 and financial aid information; and
4-20 (2) assist those prospective students in completing
4-21 applications related to enrollment in those institutions, including
4-22 admissions and financial aid applications.
4-23 (b) The board shall provide the information and assistance
4-24 required by this section at least twice each year at one or more
4-25 appropriate locations in each area served by the pilot program.
4-26 (c) The board may coordinate with an institution of higher
4-27 education or other entity to provide the information and assistance
5-1 required by this section in each area served by the pilot program.
5-2 (d) Not later than August 31, 2003, the board shall submit
5-3 to the legislature a report on the effectiveness of the pilot
5-4 program, including recommendations on whether to implement the
5-5 program on a statewide basis.
5-6 (e) The pilot program ends and this section expires August
5-7 31, 2003.
5-8 SECTION 3. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board is
5-9 required to implement Section 61.088, Education Code, as added by
5-10 this Act only if the legislature appropriates money specifically
5-11 for that purpose. If the legislature does not appropriate money
5-12 specifically for that purpose, the board may implement Section
5-13 61.088 using other appropriations available for the purpose.
5-14 SECTION 4. Notwithstanding Section 29.903, Education Code,
5-15 as added by this Act, the Texas Education Agency and the Texas
5-16 Higher Education Coordinating Board shall identify initial school
5-17 districts to which that section applies and provide notice to the
5-18 districts or public institutions of higher education, as
5-19 applicable, as prescribed by Subsection (b), Section 29.903,
5-20 Education Code, as added by this Act, as soon as practicable after
5-21 the effective date of this Act but not later than September 30,
5-22 2001. Each initial school district identified shall enter into an
5-23 agreement with a public institution of higher education in this
5-24 state, as prescribed by Subsection (c), Section 29.903, Education
5-25 Code, as added by this Act, as soon as practicable after receiving
5-26 notice in accordance with this section but not later than December
5-27 31, 2001. Each initial school district shall implement a plan to
6-1 increase enrollment of public school students in institutions of
6-2 higher education, as prescribed by Section 29.903, Education Code,
6-3 as added by this Act, beginning with the 2002-2003 school year.
6-4 SECTION 5. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
6-5 a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
6-6 provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
6-7 Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
6-8 Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
_______________________________ _______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 400 was passed by the House on April
24, 2001, by a non-record vote; and that the House concurred in
Senate amendments to H.B. No. 400 on May 24, 2001, by a non-record
vote.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 400 was passed by the Senate, with
amendments, on May 22, 2001, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays
0, 1 present, not voting.
_______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: __________________________
Date
__________________________
Governor