BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center

S.B. 1091

 

By: Seliger

 

Higher Education

 

6/20/2017

 

Enrolled

 

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Dual credit has proven to be very beneficial for students seeking a postsecondary degree by allowing them to attain college credit at no or low cost while still in high school. While Texas only funds dual credit courses that fall within the core curriculum, career and technical education, or foreign language, institutions of higher education (IHEs) can still offer dual credit courses outside of those areas.

 

S.B. 1091 prohibits IHEs from offering any course outside of the core curriculum, career and technical education, or foreign language as a dual credit course. This will help ensure that dual credit courses completed by high school students transfer to a general academic institution and apply towards their degree. (Original Author's / Sponsor's Statement of Intent)

 

S.B. 1091 amends current law relating to limitations on courses that may be offered for dual credit by school districts and public institutions of higher education.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Education Agency and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) in SECTION 1 (Section 28.009, Education Code) of this bill.

 

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to THECB in SECTION 2 (Section 51.968, Education Code) and SECTION 3 (Section 130.008, Education Code) of this bill.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1. Amends Section 28.009, Education Code, by adding Subsections (a-4), (a-5), and (b-1), as follows:

 

(a-4) Requires that a dual credit course offered under this section be in the core curriculum of the public institution of higher education (IHE) providing college credit, a career and technical education course, or a foreign language course.

 

(a-5) Provides that Subsection (a-4) does not apply to a dual credit course offered as part of the early college education program established under Section 29.908 (Early College Education Program) or any other early college program that assists a student in earning a certificate or an associate degree while in high school.

 

(b-1) Requires the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) to coordinate as necessary to adopt rules for the implementation of Subsections (a-4) and (a-5). Requires TEA and THECB, in adopting those rules, to use the negotiated rulemaking procedures under Chapter 2008 (Negotiated Rulemaking), Government Code, and consult with relevant stakeholders.

 

SECTION 2. Amends Section 51.968, Education Code, by amending Subsections (b) and (c) and adding Subsections (d), (d-1), and (d-2), as follows:

 

(b) Requires each IHE that offers freshman-level courses to adopt and implement a policy to grant undergraduate course credit to entering freshmen who have, among certain other achievements, successfully completed one or more dual credit courses, rather than one or more courses offered through concurrent enrollment in high school and at an IHE. Makes nonsubstantive changes.

 

(c) Requires the IHE to identify in the policy certain credits or other academic requirements of the IHE that the IHE will grant to a student who successfully completes the diploma program, achieves required scores on College Level Examination Program (CLEP) or Advanced Placement (AP) examinations, or successfully completes a dual credit course, rather than a course through concurrent enrollment, or who achieves required scores on CLEP or AP examinations. Makes nonsubstantive changes.

 

(d) Requires that the policy adopted by an IHE under Subsection (b) provide that the IHE is authorized to grant undergraduate course credit for a dual credit course only if the course is in the core curriculum of the IHE that offered the course, a career and technical education course, or a foreign language course.

 

(d-1) Provides that Subsection (d) does not apply to a dual credit course completed by a student as part of the early college education program established under Section 29.908 or any other early college program that assists a student in earning a certificate or an associate degree while in high school.

 

(d-2) Requires THECB, in coordination with TEA, to adopt rules to implement Subsections (d) and (d-1). Requires THECB, in adopting those rules, to use the negotiated rulemaking procedures under Chapter 2008, Government Code, and consult with relevant stakeholders.

 

SECTION 3. Amends Section 130.008, Education Code, by adding Subsections (a-1), (a-2), and (a-3), as follows:

 

(a-1) Requires that a course offered for joint high school and junior college credit under this section be in the core curriculum of the public junior college, a career and technical education course, or a foreign language course.

 

(a-2) Provides that Subsection (a-1) does not apply to a course offered for joint high school and junior college credit to a student as part of the early college education program established under Section 29.908 or any other early college program that assists a student in earning a certificate or an associate degree while in high school.

 

(a-3) Requires THECB, in coordination with TEA, to adopt rules to implement Subsections (a-1) and (a-2). Requires THECB, in adopting those rules, to use the negotiated rulemaking procedures under Chapter 2008, Government Code, and consult with relevant stakeholders.

 

SECTION 4. Provides that the changes in law made by this Act apply beginning with the 2018 spring semester.

 

SECTION 5. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2017. �