85R11820 KJE-D
 
  By: Johnson of Harris H.B. No. 3730
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the development of a statewide online education and
  career advising tool and to a study and report on certain courses
  offered for college credit to public school students.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 28, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Sections 28.0092 and 28.0093 to read as follows:
         Sec. 28.0092.  ONLINE EDUCATION AND CAREER ADVISING TOOL.
  (a) In this section, "institution of higher education" has the
  meaning assigned by Section 61.003.
         (b)  The agency shall develop and implement a statewide
  online education and career advising tool to assist children in
  making informed, meaningful, and attainable postsecondary and
  career plans.
         (c)  The online education and career advising tool must
  include:
               (1)  an individualized career pathway generator that
  assists a child in selecting a career and identifying the secondary
  and postsecondary courses the child should take to advance toward
  that career; and
               (2)  information regarding:
                     (A)  any local, regional, or statewide
  articulation agreements regarding dual credit programs or the
  transfer of course credit between institutions of higher education;
                     (B)  the postsecondary and career options
  associated with each endorsement under Section 28.025(c-1),
  including the dual credit courses related to each endorsement that
  apply toward a certificate or degree program at an institution of
  higher education;
                     (C)  any stackable degree programs provided by an
  institution of higher education through which a student may obtain
  a series of credentials as the student progresses through the
  program;
                     (D)  existing and anticipated employment
  opportunities statewide and in a child's community, aligned to
  state and regional workforce needs;
                     (E)  anticipated earnings in various careers;
                     (F)  local, regional, and statewide career
  training and certification programs, including the requirements,
  costs, and available options for those programs; and
                     (G)  the time and cost required for and other
  expenses related to various postsecondary and career options.
         (d)  In developing and implementing the online education and
  career advising tool, the agency shall consult with the Texas
  Higher Education Coordinating Board and the Texas Workforce
  Commission.  On request by the agency, the coordinating board and
  the commission shall provide to the agency any data maintained by
  the coordinating board or commission that is necessary to develop
  the tool.
         Sec. 28.0093.  STUDY ON CERTAIN COURSES OFFERED FOR COLLEGE
  CREDIT. (a) In this section:
               (1)  "Coordinating board" means the Texas Higher
  Education Coordinating Board.
               (2)  "Course offered for college credit" means an
  advanced placement course, a dual credit course, or a career and
  technical education course offered for college credit.
         (b)  The agency and coordinating board jointly shall conduct
  a study on courses offered for college credit in the state.
         (c)  The study must evaluate:
               (1)  the level of rigor of the courses most commonly
  offered for college credit to a student enrolled in a school
  district; and
               (2)  potential incentives that may be developed to
  encourage school districts and public institutions of higher
  education to ensure that courses offered for college credit are of
  high quality.
         (d)  Not later than September 1, 2020, the agency and
  coordinating board jointly shall submit to the governor, lieutenant
  governor, speaker of the house of representatives, and standing
  legislative committees with primary jurisdiction over education a
  report on the results of the study and any recommendations for
  legislative or other action.
         (e)  This section expires September 1, 2021.
         SECTION 2.  The Texas Education Agency shall develop and
  implement the online education and career advising tool as provided
  by Section 28.0092, Education Code, as added by this Act, according
  to the following schedule:
               (1)  not later than September 1, 2018, an initial
  version of the tool that incorporates as many elements required
  under that section as feasible must be developed and implemented;
  and
               (2)  not later than September 1, 2019, the full version
  of the tool that incorporates all of the elements required under
  that section must be developed and implemented.
         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, 2017.