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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to establishment of the TEXAS Grant early enrollment |
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guarantee program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter M, Chapter 56, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 56.312 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 56.312. TEXAS GRANT EARLY ENROLLMENT GUARANTEE |
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PROGRAM. (a) Following enrollment in seventh grade and prior to |
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enrollment in twelfth grade in a Texas Public School, a student who |
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is a resident of this state as determined by coordinating board |
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rules may apply for the TEXAS Grant early enrollment guarantee |
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program. |
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(b) A student is eligible to enroll in the TEXAS Grant early |
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enrollment guarantee program if the Higher Education Coordinating |
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Board certifies that the student demonstrates financial need for |
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purposes of the TEXAS Grant early enrollment guarantee program. |
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(c) A student who is eligible for the TEXAS Grant early |
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enrollment guarantee program may enroll by signing a contract with |
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the state of Texas stipulating that the state will provide TEXAS |
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Grants to the person if he or she complies with the TEXAS Grant |
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eligibility requirements in place at the time the student enrolls |
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in an undergraduate degree program or certificate program at an |
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eligible institution. |
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(d) The coordinating board shall adopt rules that require |
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students who enroll in the TEXAS Grant early enrollment guarantee |
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program to apply for any available financial aid or assistance in |
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the manner typically required for students eligible to received a |
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TEXAS grant. |
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(e) Notwithstanding the financial need of the student at the |
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time her or she enrolls in an undergraduate degree program or |
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certificate program at an eligible institution, a student who has |
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enrolled in the TEXAS Grant Early enrollment guarantee program, is |
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enrolled full-time in an eligible institution, and is otherwise |
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eligible to received a grant under this subchapter shall received a |
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minimum awards of at least the amount provided to a student enrolled |
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full-time at a public junior college. |
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(f) The coordinating board may adopt rules that allow the |
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coordinating board to increase or decrease, in proportion to the |
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number of semester credit hours in which a student is enrolled, the |
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minimum grant award provided to students who have enrolled in the |
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TEXAS Grant early enrollment program. |
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(g) The coordinating board shall administer the TEXAS Grant |
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early enrollment guarantee program and shall adopt any rules |
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necessary to implement the program, including: |
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(1) a streamlined financial need assessment tool for |
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determining eligibility for the TEXAS Grant early guarantee |
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enrollment program, based on information ordinarily provided to the |
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Internal Revenue Service of the Unites States on the income tax |
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forms of dependent students and their parents or guardians. |
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(2) the contract in part (c) |
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(3) an outreach program to notify students, parents |
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and teachers of the TEXAS Grant early enrollment guarantee program, |
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with an emphasis on outreach to schools with disproportionately |
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high numbers of economically disadvantaged students or students who |
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have traditionally underserved by higher education. |
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(4) an annual statement to be distributed to students |
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who participate in the program which includes, but is not limited to |
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information about: |
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(A) the importance of academic preparation for |
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higher education, |
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(B) financial aid, |
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(C) college savings options available throughout |
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the state of Texas, federal financial aid programs, differences in |
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projected earning for students who complete high school diplomas, |
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associate, baccalaureate, professional, or graduate degrees, and a |
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statement of what enrollees' minimum and possible maximum TEXAS |
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Grant awards are projected to be based on the most current year. |
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(D) and to the extent practicable, the report |
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should reflect students' individual progress in their academic |
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programs including coursework and test scores. |
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(E) provide students and their families with the |
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option to have relevant academic and contact information released |
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to accredited public and private higher education institutions for |
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recruitment purposes. |
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(5) an annual report on the program starting with the |
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first year students enrolled in the TEXAS Grant early enrollment |
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guarantee program matriculate into higher education |
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SECTION 2. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board |
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shall adopt rules to implement the TEXAS grant early enrollment |
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guaranteed program as required by Section 56.312, Education Code, |
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as added by this Act, beginning with the 2010-2011 school year. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |