BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1638

By: Guillen

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties contend that increased enrollment in dual credit programs provided by school districts has resulted in a need for established goals and program evaluation measures. H.B. 1638 seeks to reduce inconsistencies in program accountability by providing for statewide goals for such programs.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 1638 amends the Education Code to require the Texas Education Agency and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, not later than August 31, 2018, to jointly develop statewide goals for dual credit programs, including early college high school programs, career and technical education dual credit programs, and joint high school and junior college credit programs, to provide uniform standards for evaluating those programs. The bill requires the goals to address, at minimum, a dual credit program's achievement of enrollment in and acceleration through postsecondary education, performance in college-level coursework, and the development of an effective bridge between secondary and postsecondary education in Texas.

H.B. 1638 requires any agreement, including a memorandum of understanding or articulation agreement, entered into or renewed on or after September 1, 2018, between a school district and public institution of higher education to provide such a dual credit program to include specific program goals aligned with the statewide goals, establish or provide a procedure for establishing the course credits that may be earned under the agreement, describe the academic supports and, if applicable, guidance that will be provided to students participating in the program, establish the district's and the institution's respective roles and responsibilities in providing the program and ensuring the quality and instructional rigor of the program, and state the sources of funding for courses offered under the program. The bill requires such an agreement to be posted each year on the district's and the institution's respective websites.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2017.