AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
S.B. 1557 is intended to encourage private sector participation in early college high schools. Early college high schools partner with colleges in order to allow students least likely to attend institutions of higher learning an opportunity to earn a high school diploma and 60 college credit hours. Under current law, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) is permitted to accept gifts, grants, and donations to pay for costs not covered by students' Foundation School Program benefits. To date, no such donations have been made.
S.B. 1557 amends current law relating to business and nonprofit organization participation in supporting early college high schools.
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 29.908, Education Code, by amending Subsections (c) and (d) and adding Subsections (e), (f), and (g), as follows:
(c) Creates Subsection (d) using existing text of this subsection.
(d) Creates this subsection from existing text. Authorizes the commissioner of education (commissioner) to accept gifts, grants, and donations from any source, including private and nonprofit organizations, rather than authorizing the commissioner to accept gifts, grants, and donations from any source, including private and nonprofit organizations, to pay any costs of the early college education program (ECE program) not covered by the student's Foundation School Program's (FSP) benefits. Requires that private and nonprofit organizations that contribute to the foundation school fund receive an award under Section 7.113 (Employers for Education Excellence Award), Education Code.
(e) Requires the commissioner to collaborate with the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) to develop and implement a strategic plan to enhance private industry participation under this section. Requires that the plan include:
(1) strategies to increase private industry participation; and
(2) incentives for businesses and nonprofit organizations that choose to make donations and work with high schools that participate in a program under this section to maximize job placement opportunities for ECE program graduates.
(f) Requires the commissioner, not later than December 1, 2014, to provide a report that summarizes the strategic plan developed under Subsection (e) to the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, the governor, TWC, and THECB. Requires the Texas Education Agency, TWC, and THECB to each make the report available on the respective agency's Internet website.
(g) Redesignates existing Subsection (d) as Subsection (g) and makes no further change to this subsection.
SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2013.