85R11820 KJE-D
	By: Johnson of Harris	H.B. No. 3730

	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to the development of a statewide online education and
	career advising tool and to a study and report on certain courses
	offered for college credit to public school students.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 28, Education Code, is
	amended by adding Sections 28.0092 and 28.0093 to read as follows:
	Sec. 28.0092.  ONLINE EDUCATION AND CAREER ADVISING TOOL.
	(a) In this section, "institution of higher education" has the
	meaning assigned by Section 61.003.
	(b)  The agency shall develop and implement a statewide
	online education and career advising tool to assist children in
	making informed, meaningful, and attainable postsecondary and
	career plans.
	(c)  The online education and career advising tool must
	include:
	(1)  an individualized career pathway generator that
	assists a child in selecting a career and identifying the secondary
	and postsecondary courses the child should take to advance toward
	that career; and
	(2)  information regarding:
	(A)  any local, regional, or statewide
	articulation agreements regarding dual credit programs or the
	transfer of course credit between institutions of higher education;
	(B)  the postsecondary and career options
	associated with each endorsement under Section 28.025(c-1),
	including the dual credit courses related to each endorsement that
	apply toward a certificate or degree program at an institution of
	higher education;
	(C)  any stackable degree programs provided by an
	institution of higher education through which a student may obtain
	a series of credentials as the student progresses through the
	program;
	(D)  existing and anticipated employment
	opportunities statewide and in a child's community, aligned to
	state and regional workforce needs;
	(E)  anticipated earnings in various careers;
	(F)  local, regional, and statewide career
	training and certification programs, including the requirements,
	costs, and available options for those programs; and
	(G)  the time and cost required for and other
	expenses related to various postsecondary and career options.
	(d)  In developing and implementing the online education and
	career advising tool, the agency shall consult with the Texas
	Higher Education Coordinating Board and the Texas Workforce
	Commission.  On request by the agency, the coordinating board and
	the commission shall provide to the agency any data maintained by
	the coordinating board or commission that is necessary to develop
	the tool.
	Sec. 28.0093.  STUDY ON CERTAIN COURSES OFFERED FOR COLLEGE
	CREDIT. (a) In this section:
	(1)  "Coordinating board" means the Texas Higher
	Education Coordinating Board.
	(2)  "Course offered for college credit" means an
	advanced placement course, a dual credit course, or a career and
	technical education course offered for college credit.
	(b)  The agency and coordinating board jointly shall conduct
	a study on courses offered for college credit in the state.
	(c)  The study must evaluate:
	(1)  the level of rigor of the courses most commonly
	offered for college credit to a student enrolled in a school
	district; and
	(2)  potential incentives that may be developed to
	encourage school districts and public institutions of higher
	education to ensure that courses offered for college credit are of
	high quality.
	(d)  Not later than September 1, 2020, the agency and
	coordinating board jointly shall submit to the governor, lieutenant
	governor, speaker of the house of representatives, and standing
	legislative committees with primary jurisdiction over education a
	report on the results of the study and any recommendations for
	legislative or other action.
	(e)  This section expires September 1, 2021.
	SECTION 2.  The Texas Education Agency shall develop and
	implement the online education and career advising tool as provided
	by Section 28.0092, Education Code, as added by this Act, according
	to the following schedule:
	(1)  not later than September 1, 2018, an initial
	version of the tool that incorporates as many elements required
	under that section as feasible must be developed and implemented;
	and
	(2)  not later than September 1, 2019, the full version
	of the tool that incorporates all of the elements required under
	that section must be developed and implemented.
	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.