83R8412 PAM-D
By: J. Davis of Harris H.B. No. 1831
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to an adult high school diploma and industry certification
charter school pilot program for adults 19 to 50 years of age.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 29.251(1), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(1) "Adult education" means services and instruction
provided below the college level for adults by public local
education agencies, public nonprofit agencies, nonprofit entities
providing services and instruction as described by Section 29.259,
or community-based organizations.
SECTION 2. Section 29.253, Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 29.253. PROVISION OF ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAMS. Adult
education programs shall be provided by public school districts,
public junior colleges, public universities, public nonprofit
agencies, and community-based organizations approved in accordance
with state statutes and rules adopted by the State Board of
Education. A nonprofit entity described by Section 29.259 may also
provide an adult education program as provided by that section. The
programs must be designed to meet the education and training needs
of adults to the extent possible within available public and
private resources. Bilingual education may be the method of
instruction for students who do not function satisfactorily in
English whenever it is appropriate for their optimum development.
SECTION 3. Section 29.255, Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 29.255. FUNDING. (a) Funds shall be appropriated to
implement statewide adult basic education, adult bilingual
education, high school equivalency, and high school credit programs
to eliminate illiteracy in this state and to implement and support a
statewide program to meet the total range of adult needs for adult
education, related skill training, and pilot programs to
demonstrate the effectiveness of the community education concept.
The agency shall ensure that public local education agencies,
public nonprofit agencies, nonprofit entities providing programs
under Section 29.259, and community-based organizations have
direct and equitable access to those funds. An additional sum of
money may be appropriated to the Texas Economic Development and
Tourism Office [Department of Commerce] for the purpose of skill
training in direct support of industrial expansion and start-up,
and those locations, industries, and occupations designated by the
Texas Economic Development and Tourism Office [Department of
Commerce], when such training is also in support of the basic
purposes of this subchapter. To fulfill the basic purposes of this
subchapter, an additional sum of money may be appropriated for
skill training that is conducted to support the expansion of
civilian employment opportunities on United States military
reservations.
(b) The agency, in conjunction with the Texas Economic
Development and Tourism Office [Department of Commerce], may adopt
rules to administer skill training programs for which the agency is
responsible, and the Texas Economic Development and Tourism Office
[Department of Commerce] may adopt rules to administer skill
training programs for which it is responsible.
SECTION 4. Subchapter H, Chapter 29, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 29.259 to read as follows:
Sec. 29.259. ADULT HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA AND INDUSTRY
CERTIFICATION CHARTER SCHOOL PILOT PROGRAM. (a) The commissioner
shall establish an adult high school diploma and industry
certification charter school pilot program as provided by this
section as a strategy for meeting industry needs for a sufficiently
trained workforce within the state.
(b) Notwithstanding any other law and in addition to the
number of charters allowed under Subchapter D, Chapter 12, the
State Board of Education may grant, on the basis of an application
submitted to the board, a charter under the pilot program to a
single nonprofit entity described by Subsection (c) to provide an
adult education program for individuals described by Subsection (d)
to successfully complete:
(1) a high school program that can lead to a diploma;
and
(2) career and technology education courses that can
lead to industry certification.
(c) A nonprofit entity may be granted a charter under this
section only if the entity:
(1) has a successful history of providing education
services, including industry certifications and job placement
services, to adults 18 years of age and older whose educational and
training opportunities have been limited by educational
disadvantages, disabilities, homelessness, criminal history, or
similar circumstances; and
(2) agrees to commit at least $1 million to the adult
education program offered.
(d) A nonprofit entity granted a charter under this section
may partner with a public junior college to provide career and
technology courses that lead to industry certification.
(e) A person who is at least 19 years of age and not more
than 50 years of age is eligible to enroll in the adult education
program under this section if the person has not earned a high
school equivalency certificate and:
(1) has failed to complete the curriculum requirements
for high school graduation; or
(2) has failed to perform satisfactorily on an
assessment instrument required for high school graduation.
(f) The nonprofit entity must include in its charter
application the information required by Subsection (g).
(g) A charter granted under this section must:
(1) include a description of the adult education
program to be offered under this section; and
(2) establish specific, objective standards for
receiving a high school diploma, including an appropriate
exit-level assessment method.
(h) Funding for an adult education program under this
section is provided based on the following:
(1) for participants who are 26 years of age and older,
an amount per participant from available funds appropriated for
adult basic education equal to the statewide average amount of
state funding per student in weighted average daily attendance that
would be allocated under the Foundation School Program to an
open-enrollment charter school under Section 12.106 were the
student under 26 years of age; and
(2) for participants who are at least 19 years of age
and under 26 years of age, an amount per participant through the
Foundation School Program equal to the amount of state funding per
student in weighted average daily attendance that would be
allocated under the Foundation School Program for the student's
attendance at an open-enrollment charter school in accordance with
Section 12.106.
(i) Sections 12.107 and 12.128 apply as though funds under
this section were funds under Subchapter D, Chapter 12.
(j) Not later than December 1 of each even-numbered year,
beginning December 1, 2016, the agency shall prepare and deliver to
the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of
representatives, and presiding officer of each standing
legislative committee with primary jurisdiction over public
education or economic development a report that:
(1) evaluates any adult education program operated
under a charter granted under this section; and
(2) makes recommendations regarding the abolition,
continuation, or expansion of the pilot program.
(k) The commissioner shall adopt rules necessary to
administer the pilot program under this section. In adopting
rules, the commissioner may modify charter school requirements only
to the extent necessary for the administration of a charter school
under this section that provides for adult education.
SECTION 5. Section 42.003(a), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a) A student is entitled to the benefits of the Foundation
School Program if, on September 1 of the school year, the student:
(1) is 5 years of age or older and under 21 years of age
and has not graduated from high school, or is at least 21 years of
age and under 26 years of age and has been admitted by a school
district to complete the requirements for a high school diploma; or
(2) is at least 19 years of age and under 26 years of
age and is enrolled in an adult high school diploma and industry
certification charter school pilot program under Section 29.259.
SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.