By: Seliger S.B. No. 1509
(Aycock)
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to college readiness and success.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subsection (a), Section 61.0517, Education Code,
is amended to read as follows:
(a) In this section, "applied STEM course" means an applied
science, technology, engineering, or mathematics course offered as
part of a school district's career and technology education
curriculum and approved, as provided by Section 28.027, by the
State Board of Education for purposes of satisfying the mathematics
and science curriculum requirements, including college readiness
standards, for the recommended high school program [imposed] under
Section 28.025(b-1)(1)(A). The term may include a course offered
for dual credit.
SECTION 2. Subsection (a), Section 61.0762, Education Code,
is amended to read as follows:
(a) To implement the college readiness and success
strategic action plan adopted under Section 61.0761 and to enhance
the success of students at institutions of higher education, the
board by rule shall:
(1) develop or identify higher education bridge
programs in the subject areas of mathematics, science, social
science, or English language arts to increase student success by
reducing the need for developmental education;
(2) develop incentive programs for institutions of
higher education that implement research-based, innovative
developmental education initiatives;
(3) develop a pilot program to award grants to
institutions of higher education for intensive programs designed to
address the needs of students at risk of dropping out of college;
(4) develop or identify professional development
programs for faculty of institutions of higher education on college
readiness standards and the implications of such standards on
instruction; and
(5) develop or identify other programs as determined
by the board that support the participation and success goals in
"Closing the Gaps," the state's master plan for higher education,
with qualifications and requirements for student participation and
institutional or public school eligibility determined by the
commissioner or the commissioner's designee.
SECTION 3. Subsection (b), Section 61.833, Education Code,
is amended to read as follows:
(b) This section applies to a student enrolled in a general
academic teaching institution who:
(1) transferred to the institution from or previously
attended a lower-division institution of higher education;
(2) earned at least 30 credit hours for course work
successfully completed at the lower-division institution of higher
education; and
(3) has earned a cumulative total of at least 66 [90]
credit hours for course work successfully completed.
SECTION 4. Subsection (d), Section 61.0761, Education Code,
is repealed.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.