85R5304 KJE-D
 
  By: Guillen H.B. No. 1638
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to statewide goals for dual credit programs provided by
  school districts.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 28.009, Education Code, is amended by
  adding Subsections (b-1) and (b-2) to read as follows:
         (b-1)  The agency and the Texas Higher Education
  Coordinating Board jointly shall 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 college credit programs provided under Section 130.008,
  to provide uniform standards for evaluating those programs. The
  goals must address, at a minimum:
               (1)  a dual credit program's achievement of enrollment
  in and acceleration through postsecondary education;
               (2)  performance in college-level coursework; and
               (3)  the development of an effective bridge between
  secondary and postsecondary education in the state.
         (b-2)  Any agreement, including a memorandum of
  understanding or articulation agreement, between a school district
  and public institution of higher education to provide a dual credit
  program described by Subsection (b-1) must:
               (1)  include specific program goals aligned with the
  statewide goals developed under Subsection (b-1);
               (2)  establish, or provide a procedure for
  establishing, the course credits that may be earned under the
  agreement, including by developing a course equivalency crosswalk
  or other method for equating high school courses with college
  courses and identifying the number of credits that may be earned for
  each course completed through the program;
               (3)  describe the academic supports and, if applicable,
  guidance that will be provided to students participating in the
  program;
               (4)  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;
               (5)  state the sources of funding for courses offered
  under the program, including, at a minimum, the sources of funding
  for tuition, transportation, and any required fees or textbooks for
  students participating in the program; and
               (6)  be posted each year on the district's and the
  institution's respective Internet websites.
         SECTION 2.  Not later than August 31, 2018, the Texas
  Education Agency and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
  jointly shall develop the statewide goals required under Section
  28.009(b-1), Education Code, as added by this Act.
         SECTION 3.  Section 28.009(b-2), Education Code, as added by
  this Act, applies only to an agreement to provide a dual credit
  program entered into or renewed on or after September 1, 2018.
         SECTION 4.  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, 2017.