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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to statewide goals for dual credit programs provided by |
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school districts. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 28.009, Education Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsections (b-1) and (b-2) to read as follows: |
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(b-1) The agency and the Texas Higher Education |
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Coordinating Board jointly shall develop statewide goals for dual |
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credit programs, including early college high school programs, |
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career and technical education dual credit programs, and joint high |
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school and college credit programs provided under Section 130.008, |
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to provide uniform standards for evaluating those programs. The |
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goals must address, at a minimum: |
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(1) a dual credit program's achievement of enrollment |
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in and acceleration through postsecondary education; |
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(2) performance in college-level coursework; and |
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(3) the development of an effective bridge between |
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secondary and postsecondary education in the state. |
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(b-2) Any agreement, including a memorandum of |
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understanding or articulation agreement, between a school district |
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and public institution of higher education to provide a dual credit |
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program described by Subsection (b-1) must: |
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(1) include specific program goals aligned with the |
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statewide goals developed under Subsection (b-1); |
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(2) establish, or provide a procedure for |
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establishing, the course credits that may be earned under the |
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agreement, including by developing a course equivalency crosswalk |
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or other method for equating high school courses with college |
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courses and identifying the number of credits that may be earned for |
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each course completed through the program; |
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(3) describe the academic supports and, if applicable, |
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guidance that will be provided to students participating in the |
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program; |
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(4) establish the district's and the institution's |
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respective roles and responsibilities in providing the program and |
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ensuring the quality and instructional rigor of the program; |
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(5) state the sources of funding for courses offered |
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under the program, including, at a minimum, the sources of funding |
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for tuition, transportation, and any required fees or textbooks for |
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students participating in the program; and |
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(6) be posted each year on the district's and the |
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institution's respective Internet websites. |
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SECTION 2. Not later than August 31, 2018, the Texas |
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Education Agency and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board |
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jointly shall develop the statewide goals required under Section |
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28.009(b-1), Education Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. Section 28.009(b-2), Education Code, as added by |
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this Act, applies only to an agreement to provide a dual credit |
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program entered into or renewed on or after September 1, 2018. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |