85R11820 KJE-D
By: Johnson of Harris H.B. No. 3730
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the development of a statewide online education and
career advising tool and to a study and report on certain courses
offered for college credit to public school students.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 28, Education Code, is
amended by adding Sections 28.0092 and 28.0093 to read as follows:
Sec. 28.0092. ONLINE EDUCATION AND CAREER ADVISING TOOL.
(a) In this section, "institution of higher education" has the
meaning assigned by Section 61.003.
(b) The agency shall develop and implement a statewide
online education and career advising tool to assist children in
making informed, meaningful, and attainable postsecondary and
career plans.
(c) The online education and career advising tool must
include:
(1) an individualized career pathway generator that
assists a child in selecting a career and identifying the secondary
and postsecondary courses the child should take to advance toward
that career; and
(2) information regarding:
(A) any local, regional, or statewide
articulation agreements regarding dual credit programs or the
transfer of course credit between institutions of higher education;
(B) the postsecondary and career options
associated with each endorsement under Section 28.025(c-1),
including the dual credit courses related to each endorsement that
apply toward a certificate or degree program at an institution of
higher education;
(C) any stackable degree programs provided by an
institution of higher education through which a student may obtain
a series of credentials as the student progresses through the
program;
(D) existing and anticipated employment
opportunities statewide and in a child's community, aligned to
state and regional workforce needs;
(E) anticipated earnings in various careers;
(F) local, regional, and statewide career
training and certification programs, including the requirements,
costs, and available options for those programs; and
(G) the time and cost required for and other
expenses related to various postsecondary and career options.
(d) In developing and implementing the online education and
career advising tool, the agency shall consult with the Texas
Higher Education Coordinating Board and the Texas Workforce
Commission. On request by the agency, the coordinating board and
the commission shall provide to the agency any data maintained by
the coordinating board or commission that is necessary to develop
the tool.
Sec. 28.0093. STUDY ON CERTAIN COURSES OFFERED FOR COLLEGE
CREDIT. (a) In this section:
(1) "Coordinating board" means the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board.
(2) "Course offered for college credit" means an
advanced placement course, a dual credit course, or a career and
technical education course offered for college credit.
(b) The agency and coordinating board jointly shall conduct
a study on courses offered for college credit in the state.
(c) The study must evaluate:
(1) the level of rigor of the courses most commonly
offered for college credit to a student enrolled in a school
district; and
(2) potential incentives that may be developed to
encourage school districts and public institutions of higher
education to ensure that courses offered for college credit are of
high quality.
(d) Not later than September 1, 2020, the agency and
coordinating board jointly shall submit to the governor, lieutenant
governor, speaker of the house of representatives, and standing
legislative committees with primary jurisdiction over education a
report on the results of the study and any recommendations for
legislative or other action.
(e) This section expires September 1, 2021.
SECTION 2. The Texas Education Agency shall develop and
implement the online education and career advising tool as provided
by Section 28.0092, Education Code, as added by this Act, according
to the following schedule:
(1) not later than September 1, 2018, an initial
version of the tool that incorporates as many elements required
under that section as feasible must be developed and implemented;
and
(2) not later than September 1, 2019, the full version
of the tool that incorporates all of the elements required under
that section must be developed and implemented.
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, 2017.