By: Parker  S.B. No. 2139
         (In the Senate - Filed March 9, 2023; March 21, 2023, read
  first time and referred to Subcommittee on Higher Education;
  April 17, 2023, reported adversely, with favorable Committee
  Substitute from Committee on Education by the following vote:  
  Yeas 10, Nays 0; April 17, 2023, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
  COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 2139 By:  Springer
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to the establishment of the Opportunity High School
  Diploma pilot program.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 130, Education Code, is amended by
  adding Subchapter O to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER O. OPPORTUNITY HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA PILOT PROGRAM
         Sec. 130.451.  DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
               (1)  "Coordinating board" means the Texas Higher
  Education Coordinating Board.
               (2)  "General academic teaching institution" has the
  meaning assigned by Section 61.003.
               (3)  "Pilot program" means the Opportunity High School
  Diploma pilot program established under this subchapter.
         Sec. 130.452.  PURPOSE. The purpose of the pilot program is
  to provide an alternative means by which adult students enrolled in
  a workforce education program at a public junior college may earn a
  high school diploma at the college through concurrent enrollment in
  a competency-based education program that enables students to
  demonstrate knowledge substantially equivalent to the knowledge
  required to earn a high school diploma in this state.
         Sec. 130.453.  ADMINISTRATION. The coordinating board shall
  administer the pilot program in consultation with the Texas
  Education Agency and the Texas Workforce Commission.
         Sec. 130.454.  APPROVAL OF ALTERNATIVE HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA
  PROGRAM. (a)  A public junior college may submit to the
  coordinating board an application to participate in the pilot
  program. The application must propose an alternative
  competency-based high school diploma program to be offered for
  concurrent enrollment to adult students without a high school
  diploma who are enrolled in a workforce education program at the
  college. The proposed program may include any combination of
  instruction, curriculum, achievement, internships, or other means
  by which a student may attain knowledge sufficient to adequately
  prepare the student for postsecondary education or additional
  workforce education.
         (b)  The coordinating board may approve not more than five
  public junior colleges to participate in the pilot program.
         (c)  Subject to Subsection (b), the coordinating board shall
  review and approve a public junior college's application to
  participate in the pilot program if the board determines that the
  college's proposed program described by Subsection (a) will provide
  instruction and assessments appropriate to ensure that a student
  who successfully completes the program demonstrates levels of
  knowledge sufficient to adequately prepare the student for
  postsecondary education or additional workforce education.  The
  coordinating board may coordinate with the Texas Education Agency
  as necessary to make a determination under this subsection.
         (d)  A public junior college approved to participate in the
  pilot program may:
               (1)  enter into an agreement with one or more public
  junior colleges, general academic teaching institutions, school
  districts, or nonprofit organizations to offer the program
  described by Subsection (a); and
               (2)  offer the program described by Subsection (a) at
  any campus of the college or an entity with which the college has
  entered into an agreement under Subdivision (1).
         Sec. 130.455.  AWARD OF HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA. (a)  A public
  junior college participating in the pilot program may award a high
  school diploma to a student enrolled in the alternative
  competency-based high school diploma program offered by the college
  under the pilot program if the student performs satisfactorily on
  assessment instruments prescribed by coordinating board rule.
         (b)  A high school diploma awarded under the pilot program is
  equivalent to a high school diploma awarded under Section 28.025.
         Sec. 130.456.  FUNDING. (a)  The coordinating board and the
  Texas Workforce Commission shall coordinate to jointly identify
  funding mechanisms, including grants, interagency contracts,
  financial aid, or subsidies, available to public junior colleges
  and students to encourage and facilitate participation in the pilot
  program.
         (b)  A public junior college participating in the pilot
  program is entitled to receive funding under Section 130.003 for
  the pilot program in the manner provided by coordinating board
  rule.
         Sec. 130.457.  REPORT. Not later than December 1, 2026, the
  coordinating board shall submit to the legislature a report on the
  effectiveness of the pilot program.  The report must include a
  recommendation regarding whether the pilot program should be
  continued, expanded, or terminated.
         Sec. 130.458.  RULES. The coordinating board may adopt
  rules as necessary to implement this subchapter.
         Sec. 130.459.  EXPIRATION. This subchapter expires
  September 1, 2027.
         SECTION 2.  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.
 
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