BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center                                                                                                      S.B. 1572

80R7192 CAS-D                                                                                                          By: Shapleigh

                                                                                                                    S/C on Higher Education

                                                                                                                                            4/20/2007

                                                                                                                                              As Filed

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Currently, only public institutions of higher education in Texas are required to submit to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) student and institutional performance data.  This makes is difficult to assess current performance results of private institutions of higher education.

 

As proposed, S.B. 1572 requires private or independent institutions of higher education to report relevant student and institutional data to THECB.  The bill also changes certain obsolete references to make them current.

 

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 Section 61.0902, Education Code, as follows:

 

Sec. 61.0902.  New heading:  PUBLICATION OF PERFORMANCE DATA OF GENERAL ACADEMIC TEACHING INSTITUTIONS AND PRIVATE OR INDEPENDENT INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION.  (a) Requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) to administer a program to publish performance data provided to THECB under this section by general academic teaching institutions and by private or independent institutions of higher education that offer one or more baccalaureate degrees.  Makes a conforming deletion.

 

(b)  Requires each institution described by Subsection (a) to provide to THECB one or more reports containing data related to the qualifications of the entering freshman class for the academic year covered by the report, including the average scores of the class on an assessment instrument designated under Section 51.3062 (Success Initiative), rather than on the Texas Academic Skills Program Test, in addition to other information previously set fort in this subsection, not later than the next November 1 following the completion of an academic year.  Makes conforming and nonsubstantive changes.

 

(c), (d), and (e)  Makes conforming changes. 

 

SECTION 2.  Provides that the change in law made by this Act applies to the reporting and publication of the performance data of private or independent institutions of higher education under Section 61.0902, Education Code, as amended by this Act, beginning with the data required to be reported not later than November 1, 2008.

 

SECTION 3.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2007.