By: Longoria H.B. No. 4631
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the creation of the Opportunity High School Diploma
  pilot program.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 29, Education Code, is amended by adding
  Subchapter K-1 to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER K-1.  OPPORTUNITY HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA PILOT PROGRAM
         Sec. 29.405.  PURPOSE. It is the intent of the legislature
  to study alternative means by which an adult student who enrolls in
  a workforce education program at a public junior college and who has
  previously dropped out of secondary education may earn a high
  school diploma from a public junior college through a
  competency-based educational program that enables the student to
  demonstrate knowledge substantially equivalent to what is required
  for a Foundation High School Diploma.  The Texas Higher Education
  Coordinating Board shall consult with the Texas Education Agency
  and Texas Workforce Commission during the development and
  implementation of this pilot program.
         Sec. 29.406.  DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
         (1)  "Opportunity High School Diploma" means a diploma
  awarded by a public junior college approved by the Texas Higher
  Education Coordinating Board under this subchapter.
         (2)  "Board" means the Texas Higher Education Coordinating 
  Board.
         (3)  "Eligible student" means any student age 18 or older who
  has been, or would have been, recorded as a dropout in the Texas
  public education system or has not otherwise earned a GED or diploma
  from a Texas public school or through any other secondary 
  education.
         (4)  "Participating institution" means a public junior
  college authorized by the board, either alone or as part of a
  consortium of institutions, to offer a program under this
  subchapter.
         (5)  "Substantially equivalent" means the provision by a
  participating institution of higher education of any combination of
  instruction, curriculum, achievement, internship opportunities, or
  other means by which the board determines that an educational
  program under this subchapter may appropriately certify that a
  student has attained levels of knowledge sufficient to adequately
  prepare a student for postsecondary education or additional 
  workforce education.
         Sec. 29.407.  OPPORTUNITY HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA. (a)  The
  board may approve not more than five public junior colleges to
  participate as lead institutions for a pilot program to offer an
  alternative competency-based high school diploma program for adult
  learners.
         (b)  The board shall review and approve a proposed program
  requested by a public junior college, if the board determines that
  the public junior college's proposed program will provide
  instruction and assessments appropriate to certify that a student
  can demonstrate levels of knowledge sufficient to adequately
  prepare a student for postsecondary education or additional
  workforce education.
         (c)  Each approved public junior college program shall
  concurrently enroll an eligible student in a workforce education
  program and the Opportunity High School Diploma program to allow
  the student to earn a high school diploma while completing a
  postsecondary certificate or degree.
         (d)  Each approved public junior college program shall
  administer assessments as prescribed by Board rule prior to award
  of an Opportunity High School Diploma.
         (e)  A diploma under this section shall be considered
  equivalent to a Foundation High School Diploma.
         Sec. 29.408.  APPROVAL. (a)  The board may approve not more
  than five public junior college programs to offer the Opportunity
  High School Diploma under this subchapter.
         (b)  A public junior college that submits a proposed program
  under this subchapter may enter into an agreement with one or more
  public junior colleges, general academic teaching institutions,
  public school districts, or nonprofit organizations to offer a
  program.
         (c)  Upon board approval, a public junior college or colleges
  may offer an approved program at any campus of the applicant or
  partnering institution.
         Sec. 29.409.  FUNDING. (a)  The Texas Workforce Commission
  and the board shall work jointly to identify funding mechanisms,
  including grants, interagency contracts, financial aid, or
  subsidies available to public junior colleges and students to
  encourage and facilitate adult dropouts in earning the Opportunity
  High School Diploma.
         (b)  A public junior college that offers an Opportunity High
  School Diploma under this subchapter shall be entitled to funding
  in the community college finance system, as determined by the 
  board.
         Sec. 29.410.  RULE MAKING AND IMPLEMENTATION. (a)  The board
  shall adopt rules to implement this subchapter as necessary.
         (b)  The board may coordinate with the Texas Education Agency
  as necessary to determine whether a proposed program offering an
  Opportunity High School Diploma is sufficient to adequately prepare
  a student for postsecondary education or additional workforce
  education.
         SECTION 2.  Chapter 130, Education Code, is amended by
  adding Section 130.0082 to read as follows:
         Sec. 130.0082.  PILOT PROGRAM FOR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMAS FOR
  RECOVERED DROPOUTS IN PUBLIC JUNIOR COLLEGES. A public junior
  college may apply to the board to offer an Opportunity High School
  Diploma program in accordance with subchapter K-1, Chapter 29,
  Texas Education Code.
         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, 2023.