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