Bill Text: TX SB2131 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Comm Sub

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Bill Title: Relating to efforts to facilitate the completion by students of undergraduate certificate and degree programs.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2017-05-26 - House appoints conferees-reported [SB2131 Detail]

Download: Texas-2017-SB2131-Comm_Sub.html

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85R29841 KJE-F
By: West S.B. No. 2131
(Howard)
Substitute the following for S.B. No. 2131: No.

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to efforts to facilitate the completion by students of
undergraduate certificate and degree programs.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 33.007, Education Code, is amended by
amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsections (b-1), (b-2), and
(d) to read as follows:
(b) During the first school year a student is enrolled in a
high school or at the high school level in an open-enrollment
charter school, and again during each year of a student's
enrollment in high school or at the high school level, a school
counselor shall provide information about postsecondary education
to the student and the student's parent or guardian. The
information must include information regarding:
(1) the importance of postsecondary education;
(2) the advantages of earning an endorsement and a
performance acknowledgment and completing the distinguished level
of achievement under the foundation high school program under
Section 28.025;
(3) the disadvantages of taking courses to prepare for
a high school equivalency examination relative to the benefits of
taking courses leading to a high school diploma;
(4) financial aid eligibility;
(5) instruction on how to apply for federal financial
aid;
(6) the center for financial aid information
established under Section 61.0776;
(7) the automatic admission of certain students to
general academic teaching institutions as provided by Section
51.803;
(8) the eligibility and academic performance
requirements for the TEXAS Grant as provided by Subchapter M,
Chapter 56; [and]
(9) the availability of advanced academic programs in
the district under which a student may earn college credit,
including advanced placement programs[, dual credit programs,
joint high school and college credit programs,] and international
baccalaureate programs;
(10) the availability of dual credit and joint high
school and college credit programs, including:
(A) the types of courses offered under each
program, such as whether the courses are in the core curriculum of a
certificate or degree program at an institution of higher education
or are career and technology education courses; and
(B) whether the courses offered under each
program would transfer to an institution of higher education for
course credit applied toward a certificate or degree program; and
(11) recommended course sequences at and transfer
compacts between institutions of higher education, including the
web-based platforms developed under Sections 61.843(g) and
61.844(c).
(b-1) Each school district and open-enrollment charter
school shall post the information described by Subsection (b)(10)
on the district's or school's Internet website. The district or
school shall annually review and, if necessary, update that
information.
(b-2) Each school district and open-enrollment charter
school, in consultation with school counselors employed by the
district or school, shall develop a procedure for documenting on
each student's transcript any postsecondary advising services
provided to the student under this section, including the name of
the person or counseling provider who provided the services.
(d) In this section, "institution of higher education" has
the meaning assigned by Section 61.003.
SECTION 2. Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by adding
Subchapter S-1 to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER S-1. TEXAS GUIDED PATHWAYS PROGRAM
Sec. 61.841. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
(1) "Program" means the Texas Guided Pathways program
established under this subchapter.
(2) "Texas OnCourse initiative" means the
postsecondary education and career counseling academy developed by
The University of Texas at Austin under Section 33.009.
Sec. 61.842. ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM. (a) The Texas
Guided Pathways program is established to inform, empower, and
support current and prospective students at institutions of higher
education by providing those students clear and efficient pathways
to completion of undergraduate certificate and degree programs.
(b) The goals of the program are to:
(1) provide recommended course sequences for all
undergraduate certificate and degree programs offered at
institutions of higher education;
(2) increase the efficiency of transferring course
credit between two-year and four-year institutions of higher
education;
(3) empower students to make well-informed choices by
making useful course planning information available to students
electronically;
(4) decrease the cost of completing undergraduate
certificate and degree programs by helping students avoid taking
courses that do not count toward the programs; and
(5) streamline student pathways to completion of
undergraduate certificate and degree programs in a manner aligned
with state goals to increase educational attainment.
Sec. 61.843. RECOMMENDED COURSE SEQUENCES. (a) Each
institution of higher education shall develop a recommended course
sequence for each undergraduate certificate or degree program
offered by the institution. Each recommended course sequence must:
(1) be designed to enable a student to obtain a
certificate or degree, as applicable, within:
(A) for an associate degree or certificate
program, four semesters or other academic terms; or
(B) for a baccalaureate degree program, eight
semesters or other academic terms;
(2) include a specific sequence in which courses
should be completed to ensure completion of the applicable program
within the time frame described by Subdivision (1); and
(3) be aligned with the applicable certificate or
degree requirements published by the institution.
(b) Not later than June 1 of each year, each institution of
higher education shall:
(1) after reviewing and, if necessary, updating each
recommended course sequence, adopt a version of each recommended
course sequence to take effect beginning with entering freshmen and
undergraduate transfer students for the following academic year;
(2) submit to the board, in an electronic format
specified by the board, each recommended course sequence and, if
the institution does not use the common course numbering system,
information regarding the course equivalent under the common course
numbering system, if any, for each course included in that course
sequence; and
(3) post each recommended course sequence, including
any information required to be provided under Subdivision (2) for
that course sequence, on the institution's Internet website in a
location that is accessible from the institution's website home
page by use of not more than three links.
(c) Each institution of higher education shall inform
students about the recommended course sequences, including how to
use those course sequences as a tool to aid in course selection, and
incorporate those course sequences into student advising.
(d) To enable students to compare recommended course
sequences at institutions of higher education, each institution of
higher education shall post on the institution's Internet website a
link to the web-based platform on recommended course sequences
developed under Subsection (g).
(e) After notice to the board, an institution of higher
education may modify the institution's recommended course
sequences as necessary to:
(1) align the course sequence with the applicable
certificate or degree requirements published by the institution;
(2) incorporate recommended changes identified as a
result of any program evaluation conducted by the institution; or
(3) comply with applicable institutional policies,
accreditation requirements, and state or federal law.
(f) An institution of higher education shall honor each
version of a recommended course sequence adopted by the institution
under Subsection (b)(1), including any necessary modifications
made to the course sequence under Subsection (e), for at least the
four academic years occurring after the date on which that version
of the course sequence is adopted.
(g) The Texas OnCourse initiative, in consultation with its
partnering institutions of higher education and the board, shall
develop a statewide web-based platform that enables a student to:
(1) search for and compare recommended course
sequences at institutions of higher education; and
(2) determine whether a specific lower-division
course offered by an institution of higher education and identified
using the common course numbering system would transfer to another
institution of higher education for course credit applied toward
the student's undergraduate certificate or degree program and count
toward that institution's recommended course sequence for that
program.
(h) In developing the web-based platform under Subsection
(g), the Texas OnCourse initiative may use technology platforms
provided by the National Student Clearinghouse or any other
electronic data sharing and exchange platforms that meet nationally
accepted standards, conventions, and practices.
(i) The board shall maintain the web-based platform
developed under Subsection (g) and ensure that an electronic link
to the platform is posted on the Internet website of any electronic
common application system developed by the board.
(j) Not later than November 1 of each even-numbered year,
the board shall submit to the members of the legislature a report on
the recommended course sequences at institutions of higher
education. The report must include an analysis of the alignment of
courses taken by students in each undergraduate certificate or
degree program at an institution of higher education with the
institution's recommended course sequence for that program.
Sec. 61.844. TRANSFER COMPACTS. (a) Not later than March
15 of each year, each institution of higher education shall submit
to the board in an electronic format specified by the board:
(1) a list of the transfer compacts in which the
institution participates; and
(2) a copy of, or an electronic link to a copy of, each
transfer compact listed under Subdivision (1).
(b) The board shall provide any necessary support for the
development of transfer compacts between institutions of higher
education.
(c) The Texas OnCourse initiative, in consultation with its
partnering institutions of higher education and the board, shall
develop a statewide web-based platform that provides to students
information regarding transfer compacts between institutions of
higher education, including an electronic link to each transfer
compact submitted to the board under Subsection (a).
(d) In developing the web-based platform under Subsection
(c), the Texas OnCourse initiative may use technology platforms
provided by the National Student Clearinghouse or any other
electronic data sharing and exchange platforms that meet nationally
accepted standards, conventions, and practices.
(e) The board shall maintain the web-based platform
developed under Subsection (c).
(f) Not later than November 1 of each even-numbered year,
the board shall submit to the members of the legislature a report on
transfer compacts between institutions of higher education. The
report must include an analysis of the impact of those compacts on
students' efficient progress toward completion of an undergraduate
certificate or degree program.
Sec. 61.845. GIFTS, GRANTS, AND DONATIONS. The board may
solicit and accept gifts, grants, and donations from any public or
private source for any expenses related to the program.
Sec. 61.846. RULES. The board, in consultation with
institutions of higher education:
(1) shall adopt rules for the electronic submission of
information required to be submitted to the board under this
subchapter; and
(2) may adopt rules as necessary to implement the
program.
SECTION 3. Section 33.007, Education Code, as amended by
this Act, applies beginning with the 2017-2018 school year.
SECTION 4. Subchapter S-1, Chapter 61, Education Code, as
added by this Act, applies beginning with the 2018-2019 academic
year.
SECTION 5. Notwithstanding Section 61.843(b), Education
Code, as added by this Act, not later than August 15, 2018, each
public institution of higher education shall adopt, submit to the
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, and post on the
institution's Internet website the initial recommended course
sequences as required under that section.
SECTION 6. Not later than November 1, 2018, the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board shall submit its initial report
required under Section 61.843(j), Education Code, as added by this
Act.
SECTION 7. Not later than March 15, 2019, the Texas OnCourse
initiative shall develop the statewide web-based platforms
required under Sections 61.843(g) and 61.844(c), Education Code, as
added by this Act.
SECTION 8. Not later than November 1, 2020, the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board shall submit its initial report
required under Section 61.844(f), Education Code, as added by this
Act.
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, 2017.