89R10280 RDR-F
By: Paul H.B. No. 3041
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to measures to support the enrollment of students with a
nontraditional secondary education at public institutions of
higher education, including eligibility for certain student
financial assistance programs.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 51.9241, Education Code, is amended by
amending Subsection (d) and adding Subsection (e) to read as
follows:
(d) If an institution of higher education in its
undergraduate admission review process sorts applicants by high
school graduating class rank, the institution shall assign a class
rank to [place] any applicant who presents evidence that the
applicant has successfully completed a nontraditional secondary
education that does not include a high school graduating class
ranking by:
(1) calculating for each class rank of other
applicants to the institution the median score on each college
entrance examination the institution considers in admissions; and
(2) assigning to the applicant the highest class rank
for which the applicant's score on a college entrance examination
the institution considers in admissions is at least equal to the
median score for that class rank calculated under Subdivision (1)
[at the average high school graduating class rank of undergraduate
applicants to the institution who have equivalent standardized
testing scores as the applicant].
(e) An institution of higher education to which Subsection
(d) applies shall post on the institution's Internet website the
median score on each college entrance examination the institution
considers in admissions calculated for each class rank under
Subsection (d)(1) for the preceding admissions cycle.
SECTION 2. Section 56.013, Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 56.013. INFORMATION REGARDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
FUNDED FROM DESIGNATED TUITION. The Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board shall post on the coordinating board's Internet
website and disseminate to each public or accredited private high
school in this state information regarding the financial assistance
available under this subchapter and shall include information
designed to educate high school students and the parents of those
students on available opportunities and required preparation with
respect to institutions of higher education. The coordinating
board shall recommend a method of delivery of the information to
parents and students under this section.
SECTION 3. Section 56.304(a), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a) To be eligible initially for a TEXAS grant, a person who
graduated from high school before May 1, 2013, must:
(1) be a resident of this state as determined by
coordinating board rules;
(2) meet either of the following academic
requirements:
(A) be a graduate of a public or accredited
private high school, or a graduate who presents evidence of
successful completion of a nontraditional secondary education, as
defined by Section 51.9241, in this state who graduated not earlier
than the 1998-1999 school year and who completed the recommended or
advanced high school curriculum established under Section 28.002 or
28.025 or its equivalent; or
(B) have received an associate degree from a
public or private institution of higher education not earlier than
May 1, 2001;
(3) meet financial need requirements as defined by the
coordinating board;
(4) be enrolled in a baccalaureate degree program at
an eligible institution;
(5) be enrolled as:
(A) an entering undergraduate student for at
least three-fourths of a full course load for an entering
undergraduate student, as determined by the coordinating board, not
later than the 16th month after the date of the person's graduation
from high school; or
(B) an entering student for at least
three-fourths of a full course load for an undergraduate student as
determined by the coordinating board, not later than the 12th month
after the month the person receives an associate degree from a
public or private institution of higher education;
(6) have applied for any available financial aid or
assistance; and
(7) comply with any additional nonacademic
requirement adopted by the coordinating board under this
subchapter.
SECTION 4. Section 56.3041(a), Education Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(a) To be eligible initially for a TEXAS grant, a person
graduating from high school on or after May 1, 2013, and enrolling
in an eligible institution must:
(1) be a resident of this state as determined by
coordinating board rules;
(2) meet the academic requirements prescribed by
Paragraph (A), (B), (C), or (D) as follows:
(A) be a graduate of a public or accredited
private high school, or a graduate who presents evidence of
successful completion of a nontraditional secondary education, as
defined by Section 51.9241, in this state who completed the
foundation high school program established under Section 28.025 or
its equivalent and have accomplished any two or more of the
following:
(i) successful completion of the course
requirements of the international baccalaureate diploma program or
earning of the equivalent of at least 12 semester credit hours of
college credit in high school through courses described in Sections
28.009(a)(1), (2), and (3);
(ii) satisfaction of the Texas Success
Initiative (TSI) college readiness benchmarks prescribed by the
coordinating board under Section 51.334 on any assessment
instrument designated by the coordinating board under that section
or qualification for an exemption as described by Section
51.338(b), (c), or (d);
(iii) graduation in the top one-third of
the person's high school graduating class or graduation from high
school with a grade point average of at least 3.0 on a four-point
scale or the equivalent; or
(iv) completion for high school credit of
at least one advanced mathematics course following the successful
completion of an Algebra II course or at least one advanced career
and technical or technology applications course;
(B) have received an associate degree from a
public or private institution of higher education;
(C) be an undergraduate student who has:
(i) previously attended another
institution of higher education;
(ii) received an initial Texas Educational
Opportunity Grant under Subchapter P for the 2014 fall semester or a
subsequent academic term;
(iii) completed at least 24 semester credit
hours at any institution or institutions of higher education; and
(iv) earned an overall grade point average
of at least 2.5 on a four-point scale or the equivalent on all
course work previously attempted; or
(D) if sufficient money is available, meet the
eligibility criteria described by Section 56.304(a)(2)(A);
(3) meet financial need requirements established by
the coordinating board;
(4) be enrolled in an undergraduate degree or
certificate program at an eligible institution;
(5) except as provided under rules adopted under
Section 56.304(h), be enrolled as:
(A) an entering undergraduate student for at
least three-fourths of a full course load, as determined by the
coordinating board, not later than the 16th month after the
calendar month in which the person graduated from high school;
(B) an entering undergraduate student who
entered military service not later than the first anniversary of
the date the person graduated from high school and who enrolled for
at least three-fourths of a full course load, as determined by the
coordinating board, at the eligible institution not later than 12
months after being honorably discharged from military service;
(C) a continuing undergraduate student for at
least three-fourths of a full course load, as determined by the
coordinating board, not later than the 12th month after the
calendar month in which the person received an associate degree
from a public or private institution of higher education; or
(D) an undergraduate student described by
Subdivision (2)(C) who has never previously received a TEXAS grant;
(6) have applied for any available financial aid or
assistance; and
(7) comply with any additional nonacademic
requirements adopted by the coordinating board under this
subchapter.
SECTION 5. Sections 56.308(a) and (d), Education Code, are
amended to read as follows:
(a) The coordinating board shall post on the coordinating
board's Internet website and distribute to each eligible
institution and to each school district a copy of the rules adopted
under this subchapter.
(d) In addition to the eligibility requirements of Section
56.304, a person who graduated from an accredited private high
school or who presents evidence of successful completion of a
nontraditional secondary education, as defined by Section 51.9241,
is eligible to receive a grant under this subchapter only if the
student's official transcript or diploma includes the information
required as provided by Subsections (b)(2)(A) and (c).
SECTION 6. Section 56.484, Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 56.484. INITIAL ELIGIBILITY FOR SCHOLARSHIP. (a) To
be eligible for a scholarship under this subchapter, a student
must:
(1) have graduated from a public or accredited private
high school, or be a graduate who presents evidence of successful
completion of a nontraditional secondary education, as defined by
Section 51.9241, in this state while ranked in the top 10 percent or
as the valedictorian of the student's graduating class, subject to
Section 56.487(b);
(2) have completed the recommended or advanced high
school curriculum established under Section 28.025 or its
equivalent;
(3) have applied for admission as a first-time
freshman student for the 2010-2011 academic year or a subsequent
academic year to an institution of higher education that has
elected to offer admissions for that academic year to applicants as
provided by Section 51.803(a-1);
(4) enroll as a first-time freshman student in an
institution of higher education not later than the 16th month after
the date of the student's high school graduation;
(5) have been awarded a TEXAS grant under Subchapter M
for the same semester or other academic term for which the
scholarship will be awarded;
(6) be a Texas resident under Section 54.052; and
(7) comply with any other eligibility requirements
established by coordinating board rule.
(b) For purposes of Subsection (a)(1), the class rank of a
student who presents evidence of successful completion of a
nontraditional secondary education shall be calculated in the
manner provided by Section 51.9241(d)(1).
SECTION 7. The changes in law made by this Act to Section
51.9241, Education Code, apply beginning with admissions to a
public institution of higher education for the 2026 fall semester.
Admissions to a public institution of higher education for a term or
semester before the 2026 fall semester are governed by the law in
effect immediately before the effective date of this Act, and the
former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
SECTION 8. The changes in law made by this Act to Chapter
56, Education Code, apply beginning with student financial
assistance awarded by a public institution of higher education for
the 2026 fall semester. Student financial assistance awarded by a
public institution of higher education for a term or semester
before the 2026 fall semester is governed by the law in effect
immediately before the effective date of this Act, and the former
law is continued in effect for that purpose.
SECTION 9. 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, 2025.