88R18916 KJE-F
By: Longoria H.B. No. 4631
Substitute the following for H.B. No. 4631:
By: Kuempel C.S.H.B. No. 4631
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of the Opportunity High School
Diploma pilot program.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 130, Education Code, is amended by
adding Subchapter O to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER O. OPPORTUNITY HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA PILOT PROGRAM
Sec. 130.451. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
(1) "Coordinating board" means the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board.
(2) "General academic teaching institution" has the
meaning assigned by Section 61.003.
(3) "Pilot program" means the Opportunity High School
Diploma pilot program established under this subchapter.
Sec. 130.452. PURPOSE. The purpose of the pilot program is
to provide an alternative means by which adult students enrolled in
a workforce education program at a public junior college may earn a
high school diploma at the college through concurrent enrollment in
a competency-based education program that enables students to
demonstrate knowledge substantially equivalent to the knowledge
required to earn a high school diploma in this state.
Sec. 130.453. ADMINISTRATION. The coordinating board shall
administer the pilot program in consultation with the Texas
Education Agency and the Texas Workforce Commission.
Sec. 130.454. APPROVAL OF ALTERNATIVE HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA
PROGRAM. (a) A public junior college may submit to the
coordinating board an application to participate in the pilot
program. The application must propose an alternative
competency-based high school diploma program to be offered for
concurrent enrollment to adult students without a high school
diploma who are enrolled in a workforce education program at the
college. The proposed program may include any combination of
instruction, curriculum, achievement, internships, or other means
by which a student may attain knowledge sufficient to adequately
prepare the student for postsecondary education or additional
workforce education.
(b) The coordinating board may approve not more than five
public junior colleges to participate in the pilot program.
(c) Subject to Subsection (b), the coordinating board shall
review and approve a public junior college's application to
participate in the pilot program if the board determines that the
college's proposed program described by Subsection (a) will provide
instruction and assessments appropriate to ensure that a student
who successfully completes the program demonstrates levels of
knowledge sufficient to adequately prepare the student for
postsecondary education or additional workforce education. The
coordinating board may coordinate with the Texas Education Agency
as necessary to make a determination under this subsection.
(d) A public junior college approved to participate in the
pilot program may:
(1) enter into an agreement with one or more public
junior colleges, general academic teaching institutions, school
districts, or nonprofit organizations to offer the program
described by Subsection (a); and
(2) offer the program described by Subsection (a) at
any campus of the college or an entity with which the college has
entered into an agreement under Subdivision (1).
Sec. 130.455. AWARD OF HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA. (a) A public
junior college participating in the pilot program may award a high
school diploma to a student enrolled in the alternative
competency-based high school diploma program offered by the college
under the pilot program if the student performs satisfactorily on
assessment instruments prescribed by coordinating board rule.
(b) A high school diploma awarded under the pilot program is
equivalent to a high school diploma awarded under Section 28.025.
Sec. 130.456. FUNDING. (a) The coordinating board and the
Texas Workforce Commission shall coordinate to jointly identify
funding mechanisms, including grants, interagency contracts,
financial aid, or subsidies, available to public junior colleges
and students to encourage and facilitate participation in the pilot
program.
(b) A public junior college participating in the pilot
program is entitled to receive funding under Section 130.003 for
the pilot program in the manner provided by coordinating board
rule.
Sec. 130.457. REPORT. Not later than December 1, 2026, the
coordinating board shall submit to the legislature a report on the
effectiveness of the pilot program. The report must include a
recommendation regarding whether the pilot program should be
continued, expanded, or terminated.
Sec. 130.458. RULES. The coordinating board may adopt
rules as necessary to implement this subchapter.
Sec. 130.459. EXPIRATION. This subchapter expires
September 1, 2027.
SECTION 2. 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, 2023.