By: Rodriguez of Travis H.B. No. 3508

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a college readiness memorandum of understanding between a school district and an institution of higher education.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 28, Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 28.014. COLLEGE PREPARATORY COURSES COLLEGE READINESS PARTNERSHIP. (a) Each school district shall partner with at least one institution of higher education to:

(1) provide for joint professional development opportunities for school counselors and academic advisors to promote collaboration and support the creation of common practices and terminology relating to college readiness;

(2) identify a common method of determining college readiness;

(3) identify the pathways between the endorsements under Section 28.025(c-1) that are available to students in the school district and degree programs and fields of study relating to those endorsements that are available at the institution of higher education;

(4) develop tools based on the pathways identified under Subdivision (3) for school counselors and academic advisors to assist students in selecting a suitable program of study; and

(5) identify opportunities to increase the cost efficiency of related programs in areas that include the following:

(A) technology;

(B) facilities and equipment;

(C) dual credit course staffing and certification; and

(D) transportation.

(6) develop and provide courses in college preparatory mathematics and English language arts. The courses must be designed:

(A) for students at the 12th grade level whose performance on:

(i) an end-of-course assessment instrument required under Section 39.023(c) does not meet college readiness standards; or

(ii) coursework, a college entrance examination, or an assessment instrument designated under Section 51.3062(c) indicates that the student is not ready to perform entry-level college coursework; and

(B) to prepare students for success in entry-level college courses.

(2) A course developed under this section must be provided:

(A) on the campus of the high school offering the course; or

(B) through distance learning or as an online course provided through an institution of higher education with which the school district partners as provided by Subsection (a).

(3) Appropriate faculty of each high school offering courses under this section and appropriate faculty of each institution of higher education with which the school district partners shall meet regularly as necessary to ensure that each course is aligned with college readiness expectations. The commissioner of education, in coordination with the commissioner of higher education, may adopt rules to administer this subsection.

(4) Each school district shall provide a notice to each district student to whom Subsection (a) applies and the student's parent or guardian regarding the benefits of enrolling in a course under this section.

(5) A student who successfully completes an English language arts course developed under this section may use the credit earned in the course toward satisfying the advanced English language arts curriculum requirement for the foundation high school program under Section 28.025(b-1)(1). A student who successfully completes a mathematics course developed under this section may use the credit earned in the course toward satisfying an advanced mathematics curriculum requirement under Section 28.025 after completion of the mathematics curriculum requirements for the foundation high school program under Section 28.025(b-1)(2).

(6) A course provided under this section may be offered for dual credit at the discretion of the institution of higher education with which a school district partners under this section.

(7) Each school district, in consultation with each institution of higher education with which the district partners, shall develop or purchase instructional materials for a course developed under this section consistent with Chapter 31. The instructional materials must include technology resources that enhance the effectiveness of the course and draw on established best practices.

(8) To the extent applicable, a district shall draw from curricula and instructional materials developed under Section 28.008 in developing a course and related instructional materials under this section. A course developed under this section and the related instructional materials shall be made available to students not later than the 2014-2015 school year. This subsection expires September 1, 2015.

(b) A school district and institution of higher education shall annually review and update a partnership agreement under this section

SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2015-2016 school year.

SECTION 3. 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, 2015.