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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to agreements between the Texas Higher Education |
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Coordinating Board and certain organizations for increasing degree |
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completion rates. |
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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 61.0905 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 61.0905. AGREEMENTS AND GRANTS TO INCREASE DEGREE |
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COMPLETION RATES. (a) The board may, in partnership with |
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institutions of higher education, enter into an agreement with a |
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nonprofit organization to assist the board in identifying and |
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implementing effective methods for increasing degree completion |
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rates at institutions of higher education, including by: |
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(1) identifying and promoting innovative models, |
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emerging technology platforms, and best practices for increasing |
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degree completion rates in areas including: |
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(A) developmental education; |
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(B) financial assistance; |
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(C) student support services; and |
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(D) transfer or articulation agreements; |
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(2) providing data, research, and evaluation support |
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to assist the board in assessing the effectiveness of pilot |
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programs in increasing degree completion rates; |
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(3) coordinating ongoing local, state, federal, and |
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philanthropic initiatives to increase degree completion rates; and |
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(4) determining the extent of implementation of degree |
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completion rate improvement models across a region or the state and |
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the effectiveness of the models as student population increases. |
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(b) The board by rule may establish a grant program to fund |
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projects, including the award of a grant to a nonprofit |
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organization that enters into an agreement with the board under |
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this section, related to the improvement of degree completion |
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rates. If the board establishes a grant program under this section, |
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the board by rule shall prescribe the application procedure and |
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criteria for awarding a grant. |
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(c) Grants awarded by the board under this section may be |
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funded by: |
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(1) appropriations; and |
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(2) gifts, grants, or other donations. |
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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, 2011. |