82R8241 CAS-D

By: Villarreal H.B. No. 2517

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to eligibility for state credits for college tuition and fees for public high school students who receive diplomas by demonstrating early readiness for college.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. The heading to Section 28.0253, Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 28.0253. [PILOT] PROGRAM: HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMAS FOR STUDENTS WHO DEMONSTRATE EARLY READINESS FOR COLLEGE; STATE CREDITS FOR TUITION AND FEES.

SECTION 2. Section 28.0253, Education Code, is amended by amending Subsections (b), (e), and (f) and adding Subsections (g) and (h) to read as follows:

(b) A research university that chooses to participate in the early college readiness diploma [pilot] program under this section shall:

(1) not later than September 1 of each year, make available on the university's Internet website detailed standards for use in the program regarding:

(A) the specific competencies that demonstrate a student's mastery of each subject area for which the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the commissioner have adopted college readiness standards;

(B) the specific competencies that demonstrate a student's mastery of a language other than English; and

(C) acceptable assessments or other means by which a student may demonstrate the student's early readiness for college with respect to each subject area and the language described by this subdivision, subject to Subsection (c);

(2) partner with at least 10 school districts that reflect the geographic diversity of this state and the student compositions of which reflect the socioeconomic diversity of this state; and

(3) assist school administrators, school counselors, and other educators in each of those school districts in designing the specific requirements of and implementing the program in the district.

(e) A student who receives a high school diploma through the [pilot] program is considered to have completed the recommended high school program adopted under Section 28.025(a). The student is not guaranteed admission to any institution of higher education or to any academic program at an institution of higher education solely on the basis of having received the diploma through the program.

(f) A student who receives a high school diploma through the program and is admitted to a public or private institution of higher education in this state is eligible for a state credit to apply toward tuition and mandatory fees under Subchapter K, Chapter 56, if the student satisfies other eligibility requirements under Section 56.203. At the end of each school year, the agency shall determine the average amount per student that will be saved the following school year, by the state and by school districts partnering with a research university under this section, as a result of early graduation through the program in the current school. The amount of a student's state credit is, as determined under this subsection, the sum of the amount equal to 50 percent of the average amount per student that will be saved by the state and the amount equal to 50 percent of the average amount per student that will be saved by partnering school districts as a result of early graduation through the program.

(g) Administrative costs to the agency or to a research university under this section shall be paid from money saved by the state as a result of the early graduation of students receiving a high school diploma through the program.

(h) A research university that participates in the [pilot] program shall enter into an agreement with an education research center established under Section 1.005 to conduct an evaluation of the program with respect to that university and the school districts with which the university partners. Not later than January 1, 2013, the education research center shall provide a written report of the evaluation to the commissioner and the commissioner of higher education and make the report available on the center's Internet website. The report may include an analysis of the effects of the program on the university's admissions review process. This subsection expires January 31, 2013.

SECTION 3. Section 42.005, Education Code, is amended by adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows:

(a-1) In computing the sum of attendance under Subsection (a), for each day of the minimum number of days of instruction, 50 percent of the students who received a high school diploma in the preceding school year through the program under Section 28.0253 shall be considered in attendance for each day of the current school year in the school district from which the student graduated.

SECTION 4. Section 56.202(b), Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

(b) A portion of the savings to the Foundation School Program that occur as a result of the program, including a portion of the savings that occur as a result of the program under Section 28.0253, is dedicated to state credits for tuition or tuition and mandatory fees, as applicable, provided to an eligible person under the program.

SECTION 5. Sections 56.203(a), (b), and (c), Education Code, are amended to read as follows:

(a) To be eligible for an award through the Early High School Graduation Scholarship program, a person must:

(1) have graduated from a public high school in this state:

(A) in not more than 41 consecutive months and successfully completed the recommended or advanced high school program established under Section 28.025, if the person graduated on or after September 1, 2005;

(B) in not more than 46 consecutive months, with at least 30 hours of college credit, and successfully completed the recommended or advanced high school program established under Section 28.025, if the person graduated on or after September 1, 2005; [or]

(C) by receiving a high school diploma through the program established under Section 28.0253, notwithstanding Paragraph (A) or (B); or

(D) in not more than 36 consecutive months after successfully completing the requirements for a high school diploma, if the person graduated before September 1, 2005, regardless of whether the person successfully completed the recommended or advanced high school program established under Section 28.025;

(2) have attended one or more public high schools in this state for the majority of time the person attended high school; and

(3) be a citizen of the United States or otherwise lawfully authorized to be present in the United States.

(b) The eligibility for the Early High School Graduation Scholarship program of a person described by Subsection (a)(1)(A), [or] (B), or (C) ends on the sixth anniversary of the date that the person first becomes eligible to participate in the program, unless the person is provided additional time to participate in the program under Subsection (c).

(c) The coordinating board shall adopt rules to provide a person described by Subsection (a)(1)(A), [or] (B), or (C) who is otherwise eligible to participate in the Early High School Graduation Scholarship program additional time to use a state credit for tuition and mandatory fees under the program. The rules must require a person seeking an extension under this subsection to show hardship or other good cause that prevents the person from enrolling in or continuing enrollment in an eligible institution during the period provided by Subsection (b). For purposes of this subsection, hardship or other good cause includes a severe illness or other debilitating condition, responsibility for the care of a sick, injured, or needy person, or active duty or other service in the United States armed forces.

SECTION 6. Section 56.204(a), Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) An eligible person under the Early High School Graduation Scholarship program is entitled to a state credit to apply toward tuition or tuition and mandatory fees, as applicable, at a public or private institution of higher education in this state in the following amounts:

(1) $2,000 to apply toward tuition and mandatory fees if the person successfully completed the recommended or advanced high school program established under Section 28.025 and graduated from high school on or after September 1, 2005, in 36 consecutive months or less and an additional $1,000 to apply toward tuition and mandatory fees if the person graduated with at least 15 hours of college credit;

(2) $500 to apply toward tuition and mandatory fees if the person successfully completed the recommended or advanced high school program established under Section 28.025 and graduated from high school on or after September 1, 2005, in more than 36 consecutive months but not more than 41 consecutive months and an additional $1,000 to apply toward tuition and mandatory fees if the person graduated with at least 30 hours of college credit;

(3) $1,000 to apply toward tuition and mandatory fees if the person successfully completed the recommended or advanced high school program established under Section 28.025 and graduated from high school on or after September 1, 2005, in more than 41 consecutive months but not more than 45 consecutive months with at least 30 hours of college credit; [or]

(4) the amount determined as the amount of the student's state credit under Section 28.0253(f) to apply toward tuition and mandatory fees if the person received a high school diploma through the program established under Section 28.0253, notwithstanding Subdivision (1), (2), or (3); or

(5) $1,000 to apply only toward tuition if the person graduated before September 1, 2005, after successfully completing the requirements for a high school diploma in not more than 36 consecutive months.

SECTION 7. Section 56.206(d), Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

(d) Subject to Section 56.203(b), an eligible person may use the state credit for enrollment in an eligible institution of higher education during any semester or summer session, except the initial use of the credit by a person who qualifies for an award under Section 56.203(a)(1)(A), [or] (B), or (C) may not be for enrollment during any term of a summer session immediately following the person's graduation from high school.

SECTION 8. The amendments to Section 28.0253, Education Code, and Subchapter K, Chapter 56, Education Code, made by this Act apply only to students who receive a high school diploma through the program under Section 28.0253, Education Code, as amended by this Act, in the 2011-2012 school year or a later school year.

SECTION 9. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2011.