82R8241 CAS-D
By: Villarreal H.B. No. 2517
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to eligibility for state credits for college tuition and
fees for public high school students who receive diplomas by
demonstrating early readiness for college.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. The heading to Section 28.0253, Education Code,
is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 28.0253. [PILOT] PROGRAM: HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMAS FOR
STUDENTS WHO DEMONSTRATE EARLY READINESS FOR COLLEGE; STATE CREDITS
FOR TUITION AND FEES.
SECTION 2. Section 28.0253, Education Code, is amended by
amending Subsections (b), (e), and (f) and adding Subsections (g)
and (h) to read as follows:
(b) A research university that chooses to participate in the
early college readiness diploma [pilot] program under this section
shall:
(1) not later than September 1 of each year, make
available on the university's Internet website detailed standards
for use in the program regarding:
(A) the specific competencies that demonstrate a
student's mastery of each subject area for which the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board and the commissioner have adopted
college readiness standards;
(B) the specific competencies that demonstrate a
student's mastery of a language other than English; and
(C) acceptable assessments or other means by
which a student may demonstrate the student's early readiness for
college with respect to each subject area and the language
described by this subdivision, subject to Subsection (c);
(2) partner with at least 10 school districts that
reflect the geographic diversity of this state and the student
compositions of which reflect the socioeconomic diversity of this
state; and
(3) assist school administrators, school counselors,
and other educators in each of those school districts in designing
the specific requirements of and implementing the program in the
district.
(e) A student who receives a high school diploma through the
[pilot] program is considered to have completed the recommended
high school program adopted under Section 28.025(a). The student
is not guaranteed admission to any institution of higher education
or to any academic program at an institution of higher education
solely on the basis of having received the diploma through the
program.
(f) A student who receives a high school diploma through the
program and is admitted to a public or private institution of higher
education in this state is eligible for a state credit to apply
toward tuition and mandatory fees under Subchapter K, Chapter 56,
if the student satisfies other eligibility requirements under
Section 56.203. At the end of each school year, the agency shall
determine the average amount per student that will be saved the
following school year, by the state and by school districts
partnering with a research university under this section, as a
result of early graduation through the program in the current
school. The amount of a student's state credit is, as determined
under this subsection, the sum of the amount equal to 50 percent of
the average amount per student that will be saved by the state and
the amount equal to 50 percent of the average amount per student
that will be saved by partnering school districts as a result of
early graduation through the program.
(g) Administrative costs to the agency or to a research
university under this section shall be paid from money saved by the
state as a result of the early graduation of students receiving a
high school diploma through the program.
(h) A research university that participates in the [pilot]
program shall enter into an agreement with an education research
center established under Section 1.005 to conduct an evaluation of
the program with respect to that university and the school
districts with which the university partners. Not later than
January 1, 2013, the education research center shall provide a
written report of the evaluation to the commissioner and the
commissioner of higher education and make the report available on
the center's Internet website. The report may include an analysis
of the effects of the program on the university's admissions review
process. This subsection expires January 31, 2013.
SECTION 3. Section 42.005, Education Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows:
(a-1) In computing the sum of attendance under Subsection
(a), for each day of the minimum number of days of instruction, 50
percent of the students who received a high school diploma in the
preceding school year through the program under Section 28.0253
shall be considered in attendance for each day of the current school
year in the school district from which the student graduated.
SECTION 4. Section 56.202(b), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(b) A portion of the savings to the Foundation School
Program that occur as a result of the program, including a portion
of the savings that occur as a result of the program under Section
28.0253, is dedicated to state credits for tuition or tuition and
mandatory fees, as applicable, provided to an eligible person under
the program.
SECTION 5. Sections 56.203(a), (b), and (c), Education
Code, are amended to read as follows:
(a) To be eligible for an award through the Early High
School Graduation Scholarship program, a person must:
(1) have graduated from a public high school in this
state:
(A) in not more than 41 consecutive months and
successfully completed the recommended or advanced high school
program established under Section 28.025, if the person graduated
on or after September 1, 2005;
(B) in not more than 46 consecutive months, with
at least 30 hours of college credit, and successfully completed the
recommended or advanced high school program established under
Section 28.025, if the person graduated on or after September 1,
2005; [or]
(C) by receiving a high school diploma through
the program established under Section 28.0253, notwithstanding
Paragraph (A) or (B); or
(D) in not more than 36 consecutive months after
successfully completing the requirements for a high school diploma,
if the person graduated before September 1, 2005, regardless of
whether the person successfully completed the recommended or
advanced high school program established under Section 28.025;
(2) have attended one or more public high schools in
this state for the majority of time the person attended high school;
and
(3) be a citizen of the United States or otherwise
lawfully authorized to be present in the United States.
(b) The eligibility for the Early High School Graduation
Scholarship program of a person described by Subsection (a)(1)(A),
[or] (B), or (C) ends on the sixth anniversary of the date that the
person first becomes eligible to participate in the program, unless
the person is provided additional time to participate in the
program under Subsection (c).
(c) The coordinating board shall adopt rules to provide a
person described by Subsection (a)(1)(A), [or] (B), or (C) who is
otherwise eligible to participate in the Early High School
Graduation Scholarship program additional time to use a state
credit for tuition and mandatory fees under the program. The rules
must require a person seeking an extension under this subsection to
show hardship or other good cause that prevents the person from
enrolling in or continuing enrollment in an eligible institution
during the period provided by Subsection (b). For purposes of this
subsection, hardship or other good cause includes a severe illness
or other debilitating condition, responsibility for the care of a
sick, injured, or needy person, or active duty or other service in
the United States armed forces.
SECTION 6. Section 56.204(a), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a) An eligible person under the Early High School
Graduation Scholarship program is entitled to a state credit to
apply toward tuition or tuition and mandatory fees, as applicable,
at a public or private institution of higher education in this state
in the following amounts:
(1) $2,000 to apply toward tuition and mandatory fees
if the person successfully completed the recommended or advanced
high school program established under Section 28.025 and graduated
from high school on or after September 1, 2005, in 36 consecutive
months or less and an additional $1,000 to apply toward tuition and
mandatory fees if the person graduated with at least 15 hours of
college credit;
(2) $500 to apply toward tuition and mandatory fees if
the person successfully completed the recommended or advanced high
school program established under Section 28.025 and graduated from
high school on or after September 1, 2005, in more than 36
consecutive months but not more than 41 consecutive months and an
additional $1,000 to apply toward tuition and mandatory fees if the
person graduated with at least 30 hours of college credit;
(3) $1,000 to apply toward tuition and mandatory fees
if the person successfully completed the recommended or advanced
high school program established under Section 28.025 and graduated
from high school on or after September 1, 2005, in more than 41
consecutive months but not more than 45 consecutive months with at
least 30 hours of college credit; [or]
(4) the amount determined as the amount of the
student's state credit under Section 28.0253(f) to apply toward
tuition and mandatory fees if the person received a high school
diploma through the program established under Section 28.0253,
notwithstanding Subdivision (1), (2), or (3); or
(5) $1,000 to apply only toward tuition if the person
graduated before September 1, 2005, after successfully completing
the requirements for a high school diploma in not more than 36
consecutive months.
SECTION 7. Section 56.206(d), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(d) Subject to Section 56.203(b), an eligible person may use
the state credit for enrollment in an eligible institution of
higher education during any semester or summer session, except the
initial use of the credit by a person who qualifies for an award
under Section 56.203(a)(1)(A), [or] (B), or (C) may not be for
enrollment during any term of a summer session immediately
following the person's graduation from high school.
SECTION 8. The amendments to Section 28.0253, Education
Code, and Subchapter K, Chapter 56, Education Code, made by this Act
apply only to students who receive a high school diploma through the
program under Section 28.0253, Education Code, as amended by this
Act, in the 2011-2012 school year or a later school year.
SECTION 9. 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, 2011.