S.B. No. 2139
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of the Opportunity High School
Diploma 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 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) "Program," unless the context indicates
otherwise, means the Opportunity High School Diploma program
established under this subchapter.
Sec. 130.452. PURPOSE. The purpose of the 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 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 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) A public junior college may submit an application under
Subsection (a) together with one or more public junior colleges,
general academic teaching institutions, public school districts,
or nonprofit organizations with whom the proposed program described
by that subsection will be offered as provided by Subsection (e).
(c) The coordinating board may approve not more than five
public junior colleges to participate in the program.
(d) Subject to Subsection (c), the coordinating board shall
review and approve a public junior college's application to
participate in the 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 proposed 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.
(e) A public junior college approved to participate in the
program may:
(1) enter into an agreement with one or more public
junior colleges, general academic teaching institutions, public
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 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
program if the student performs satisfactorily on assessment
instruments prescribed by coordinating board rule.
(b) A high school diploma awarded under the 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
program.
(b) A public junior college participating in the program is
entitled to receive funding under Section 130.003 for the 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 progress
report on the effectiveness of the program and any recommendations
for legislative or other action. This section expires
September 1, 2027.
Sec. 130.458. RULES. The coordinating board may adopt
rules as necessary to implement this subchapter.
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.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 2139 passed the Senate on
April 20, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0; and that
the Senate concurred in House amendment on May 19, 2023, by the
following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 2139 passed the House, with
amendment, on May 17, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 142,
Nays 3, one present not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Approved:
______________________________
Date
______________________________
Governor