By: Longoria H.B. No. 4631
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the creation of the Opportunity High School Diploma
pilot program.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 29, Education Code, is amended by adding
Subchapter K-1 to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER K-1. OPPORTUNITY HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA PILOT PROGRAM
Sec. 29.405. PURPOSE. It is the intent of the legislature
to study alternative means by which an adult student who enrolls in
a workforce education program at a public junior college and who has
previously dropped out of secondary education may earn a high
school diploma from a public junior college through a
competency-based educational program that enables the student to
demonstrate knowledge substantially equivalent to what is required
for a Foundation High School Diploma. The Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board shall consult with the Texas Education Agency
and Texas Workforce Commission during the development and
implementation of this pilot program.
Sec. 29.406. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
(1) "Opportunity High School Diploma" means a diploma
awarded by a public junior college approved by the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board under this subchapter.
(2) "Board" means the Texas Higher Education Coordinating
Board.
(3) "Eligible student" means any student age 18 or older who
has been, or would have been, recorded as a dropout in the Texas
public education system or has not otherwise earned a GED or diploma
from a Texas public school or through any other secondary
education.
(4) "Participating institution" means a public junior
college authorized by the board, either alone or as part of a
consortium of institutions, to offer a program under this
subchapter.
(5) "Substantially equivalent" means the provision by a
participating institution of higher education of any combination of
instruction, curriculum, achievement, internship opportunities, or
other means by which the board determines that an educational
program under this subchapter may appropriately certify that a
student has attained levels of knowledge sufficient to adequately
prepare a student for postsecondary education or additional
workforce education.
Sec. 29.407. OPPORTUNITY HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA. (a) The
board may approve not more than five public junior colleges to
participate as lead institutions for a pilot program to offer an
alternative competency-based high school diploma program for adult
learners.
(b) The board shall review and approve a proposed program
requested by a public junior college, if the board determines that
the public junior college's proposed program will provide
instruction and assessments appropriate to certify that a student
can demonstrate levels of knowledge sufficient to adequately
prepare a student for postsecondary education or additional
workforce education.
(c) Each approved public junior college program shall
concurrently enroll an eligible student in a workforce education
program and the Opportunity High School Diploma program to allow
the student to earn a high school diploma while completing a
postsecondary certificate or degree.
(d) Each approved public junior college program shall
administer assessments as prescribed by Board rule prior to award
of an Opportunity High School Diploma.
(e) A diploma under this section shall be considered
equivalent to a Foundation High School Diploma.
Sec. 29.408. APPROVAL. (a) The board may approve not more
than five public junior college programs to offer the Opportunity
High School Diploma under this subchapter.
(b) A public junior college that submits a proposed program
under this subchapter may enter into an agreement with one or more
public junior colleges, general academic teaching institutions,
public school districts, or nonprofit organizations to offer a
program.
(c) Upon board approval, a public junior college or colleges
may offer an approved program at any campus of the applicant or
partnering institution.
Sec. 29.409. FUNDING. (a) The Texas Workforce Commission
and the board shall work jointly to identify funding mechanisms,
including grants, interagency contracts, financial aid, or
subsidies available to public junior colleges and students to
encourage and facilitate adult dropouts in earning the Opportunity
High School Diploma.
(b) A public junior college that offers an Opportunity High
School Diploma under this subchapter shall be entitled to funding
in the community college finance system, as determined by the
board.
Sec. 29.410. RULE MAKING AND IMPLEMENTATION. (a) The board
shall adopt rules to implement this subchapter as necessary.
(b) The board may coordinate with the Texas Education Agency
as necessary to determine whether a proposed program offering an
Opportunity High School Diploma is sufficient to adequately prepare
a student for postsecondary education or additional workforce
education.
SECTION 2. Chapter 130, Education Code, is amended by
adding Section 130.0082 to read as follows:
Sec. 130.0082. PILOT PROGRAM FOR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMAS FOR
RECOVERED DROPOUTS IN PUBLIC JUNIOR COLLEGES. A public junior
college may apply to the board to offer an Opportunity High School
Diploma program in accordance with subchapter K-1, Chapter 29,
Texas Education Code.
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, 2023.