SRC-TAG, TAG, VRA S.B. 26 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 26
By: Zaffirini
Education
3/20/2003
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, there is a need for colleges and university campuses to
establish retention programs to assist students in maximizing their
potential for academic success.  Many at-risk students may not be prepared
for college-level work and may need assistance to achieve success.   As
proposed, S.B. 26 develops a mentorship program in higher education that
targets high at-risk students who are first generation college attenders,
low income or educationally under-prepared.  This bill seeks to meet the
goals of the Closing the Gap report by assisting at-risk college students
to remain enrolled and to graduate from college.   

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

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

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Chapter 51A, Education Code, by adding Section 51.9356,
as follows: 

Sec.  51.9356.  PILOT PROGRAM REGARDING THE RETENTION OF STUDENTS IN
HIGHER EDUCATION.  (a)  Requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating
Board (THECB) to develop a pilot program called the "Freshman SUCCESS
Program" that will focus on retention of high-risk students who are first
generation in college, low-income, and/or educationally under-prepared by
providing proactive modalities to meet the demand of college. 

(b)  Requires the pilot program to address certain factors that may affect
a student's success in college. 

(c)  Requires THECB perform certain tasks in conducting this pilot program
study. 

(d)  Requires THECB to complete the pilot program study and report the
results of the study to the legislature on or before October 1, 2004.
Requires the report to include THECB's recommendations concerning the
Freshman SUCCESS Program. 

  (e)  Provides that in this section "the board" means THECB.

  (f)  Provides that this section expires September 1, 2005.

SECTION 2.  Effective date:  upon passage or September 1, 2003.