85R5418 KJE-D
By: Hernandez H.B. No. 585
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a study conducted by the Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board on the qualification for and performance at
institutions of higher education of certain students who completed
certain mathematics courses during high school.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 61.07612 to read as follows:
Sec. 61.07612. STUDY ON QUALIFICATION AND PERFORMANCE OF
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS COMPLETING CERTAIN MATHEMATICS COURSES. (a)
Each academic year, the board shall conduct a study regarding the
qualification for and performance at institutions of higher
education of students graduating from school districts in
low-income areas, as defined by the board, who completed certain
mathematics courses during high school.
(b) The study must include a comparison of:
(1) acceptance rates at institutions of higher
education between students who, under the foundation high school
program under Section 28.025, successfully completed Algebra II and
students who successfully completed another advanced mathematics
course in place of Algebra II;
(2) retention rates at institutions of higher
education between students who successfully completed the
curriculum requirements established under Section 28.025 for the
distinguished level of achievement under the foundation high school
program and students who did not; and
(3) between students who earned the science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics endorsement under Section
28.025(c-1) and students who earned another endorsement or did not
earn an endorsement under that section, eligibility rates for:
(A) the following merit-based financial aid
programs:
(i) the TEXAS grant program under
Subchapter M, Chapter 56; and
(ii) the Texas Educational Opportunity
Grant Program under Subchapter P, Chapter 56; or
(B) automatic admission to a general academic
teaching institution under Section 51.803.
(c) Not later than September 1 of each year, the board shall
submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the standing
legislative committees with primary jurisdiction over education a
report regarding the results of the study under this section and any
recommendations for legislative or administrative action.
(d) The board shall adopt rules as necessary to implement
this section in a manner that ensures compliance with federal law
regarding confidentiality of student educational information,
including the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (20
U.S.C. Section 1232g).
(e) This section expires December 1, 2021.
SECTION 2. Not later than September 1, 2018, the Texas
Higher Education Coordinating Board shall submit its initial report
required by Section 61.07612, Education Code, as added by this Act.
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.