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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to developing a developmental education plan for students |
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entering public institutions of higher education. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 61.07611 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 61.07611. DEVELOPMENTAL EDUCATION PLAN; REPORT. (a) To |
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serve students who require developmental education in an effective |
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and cost-effective manner, the board shall develop a statewide plan |
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for developmental education to be provided under Section 51.3062 |
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that: |
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(1) assigns primary responsibility for developmental |
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education to public junior colleges; and |
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(2) provides for using technology, to the greatest |
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extent practicable consistent with best practices, to provide |
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developmental education to students. |
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(b) In developing the developmental education plan, the |
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board shall: |
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(1) research issues related to developmental |
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education; |
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(2) study and develop best practices for successful |
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developmental education programs, including through use of pilot |
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programs; and |
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(3) assess various methods of providing developmental |
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education to students to determine which methods, if any, should be |
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implemented on a statewide basis. |
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(c) Developmental education under the plan must include: |
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(1) technological delivery of developmental education |
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courses that allows students to complete course work on any |
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schedule; |
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(2) diagnostic assessments to determine a student's |
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specific educational needs to allow for appropriate developmental |
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instruction; |
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(3) modular developmental education course materials; |
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(4) employment of tutors and instructional aides to |
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supplement developmental education course instruction as needed |
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for particular students; |
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(5) an internal monitoring mechanism to: |
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(A) measure time spent by a student on a |
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particular assignment or on a module of course materials; and |
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(B) identify a student's area of academic |
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difficulty; |
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(6) periodic updates of developmental education |
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course materials; and |
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(7) assessments after completion of a developmental |
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education course to determine a student's readiness to enroll in |
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freshman-level academic courses. |
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(d) The developmental education plan must provide for: |
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(1) ongoing training for developmental education |
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program faculty members, tutors, and instructional aides at the |
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institutions or other locations where those persons provide |
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instruction; and |
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(2) ongoing research and improvement of appropriate |
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developmental education programs, including participation by a |
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group of institution of higher education faculty members selected |
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by the board, to: |
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(A) monitor results of the programs; |
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(B) identify successful and unsuccessful program |
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components; and |
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(C) identify possible solutions to program |
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problems. |
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(e) Not later than December 1, 2010, the board shall submit |
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to the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of |
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representatives, and the presiding officer of each legislative |
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standing committee with primary jurisdiction over higher education |
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a report concerning the initial development of the developmental |
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education plan under this section, including any recommendations |
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for redesign or reassignment among institutions of higher education |
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of existing programs or implementation of new programs and, if |
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appropriate, recommendations for legislation. This subsection |
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expires January 1, 2011. |
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SECTION 2. 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. |