By: Kuempel, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Hinojosa) H.B. No. 4363          (In the Senate - Received from the House May 3, 2023;   May 5, 2023, read first time and referred to Subcommittee on Higher   Education; May 18, 2023, reported favorably from Committee on   Education by the following vote:  Yeas 12, Nays 1; May 18, 2023,   sent to printer.)Click here to see the committee vote     A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT     relating to the establishment of the Future Texas Teachers   Scholarship Program for certain students at public institutions of   higher education.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Chapter 56, Education Code, is amended by adding   Subchapter S to read as follows:   SUBCHAPTER S. FUTURE TEXAS TEACHERS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM          Sec. 56.501.  DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:                (1)  "Coordinating board" means the Texas Higher   Education Coordinating Board.                (2)  "Eligible institution" means a general academic   teaching institution or a private or independent institution of   higher education, as those terms are defined by Section 61.003,   that operates an eligible educator preparation program.                (3)  "Enrolled full-time" means enrolled for at least   12 semester credit hours or participating in a clinical teaching   assignment or internship that meets criteria established by State   Board for Educator Certification rule for initial certification as   a classroom teacher.                (4)  "Scholarship program" means the Future Texas   Teachers Scholarship Program authorized by this subchapter.          Sec. 56.502.  PURPOSE. The Future Texas Teachers   Scholarship Program is created to recruit, prepare, and retain a   talented and diverse workforce of career teachers to be leaders in   their field and to provide assistance for tuition, mandatory fees,   and other usual and customary costs of attendance at an eligible   institution as provided by Sections 56.506 and 56.507.          Sec. 56.503.  ELIGIBLE EDUCATOR PREPARATION PROGRAMS. To be   eligible to participate in the scholarship program, an educator   preparation program must:                (1)  be operated by an eligible institution;                (2)  provide a structured system of support to assist   scholarship recipients to successfully complete the educator   preparation program;                (3)  require additional hours of field-based   experience for students above the minimum hours required by State   Board for Educator Certification rule;                (4)  require additional hours of clinical teaching   experience for students above the minimum hours required by State   Board for Educator Certification rule;                (5)  provide or facilitate opportunities for   scholarship recipients to participate in learning opportunities   beyond the university classroom setting; and                (6)  comply with other eligibility criteria   established by coordinating board rule.          Sec. 56.504.  INITIAL STUDENT ELIGIBILITY FOR SCHOLARSHIP.   (a) To be eligible initially for a scholarship under the   scholarship program, a person must:                (1)  be a Texas resident under Section 54.052;                (2)  either:                      (A)  be enrolled full-time in an eligible   institution; or                      (B)  have applied for admission to an eligible   institution and enroll full-time in that institution in the   academic year immediately following the person's application;                (3)  once enrolled full-time in an eligible   institution, be working toward a baccalaureate or master's degree   and on track to be admitted to an eligible educator preparation   program, as verified by the eligible institution operating the   educator preparation program;                (4)  demonstrate a commitment to pursuing a career as a   classroom teacher in a public school in this state:                      (A)  in a teaching field identified by the   commissioner of education as experiencing a critical shortage of   teachers in this state; or                      (B)  in a public school in this state in which a   majority of students enrolled are educationally disadvantaged;                (5)  comply with Section 28.0256; and                (6)  comply with any other academic or nonacademic   requirements adopted by the coordinating board under this   subchapter.          (b)  A person is not eligible to receive a scholarship under   the scholarship program if the person has been convicted of a felony   or misdemeanor offense relating to the duties and responsibilities   of the education profession, including:                (1)  an offense involving moral turpitude;                (2)  an offense involving a form of sexual or physical   abuse of a minor or student or other illegal conduct in which the   victim is a minor or student;                (3)  a felony offense involving the possession,   transfer, sale, or distribution of or conspiracy to possess,   transfer, sell, or distribute a controlled substance, as defined by   Chapter 481, Health and Safety Code, or by 21 U.S.C. Section 801 et   seq.;                (4)  an offense involving the illegal transfer,   appropriation, or use of school district funds or other district   property; or                (5)  an offense involving an attempt by fraudulent or   unauthorized means to obtain or alter a professional certificate or   license issued under Subchapter B, Chapter 21.          Sec. 56.505.  CONTINUING STUDENT ELIGIBILITY AND ACADEMIC   PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS. (a) After initially qualifying for a   scholarship under this subchapter, a person may continue to receive   a scholarship under the scholarship program during each semester or   term in which the person is enrolled at an eligible institution only   if the person:                (1)  demonstrates a continued commitment to pursuing a   career as a classroom teacher:                      (A)  in a teaching field identified by the   commissioner of education as experiencing a critical shortage of   teachers in this state; or                      (B)  in a public school in this state in which a   majority of students enrolled are educationally disadvantaged;                (2)  remains enrolled full-time in an eligible   institution;                (3)  remains enrolled in or is on track to be admitted   to an eligible educator preparation program, as verified by the   eligible institution in which the person is enrolled;                (4)  makes satisfactory academic progress toward   completion of a baccalaureate or master's degree and approval to   take a teacher certification exam, as verified by the eligible   institution; and                (5)  complies with any other academic or nonacademic   requirements adopted by the coordinating board under this   subchapter.          (b)  A person is not eligible to continue to receive a   scholarship under the scholarship program if the person has been   convicted of a felony or misdemeanor offense described by Section   56.504(b).          (c)  If a person fails to meet any of the requirements of   Subsection (a) after the completion of any semester or term, the   person may not receive a scholarship under this subchapter during   the next semester or term in which the person enrolls. A person may   become eligible to receive a scholarship under this subchapter in a   subsequent semester or term if the person:                (1)  completes a semester or term during which the   person is not eligible for a scholarship; and                (2)  meets all the requirements of Subsection (a).          (d)  For the purpose of this section, a person makes   satisfactory academic progress toward a baccalaureate or master's   degree only if:                (1)  in the person's first academic year the person   meets the satisfactory academic progress requirements of the   eligible institution in which the person is enrolled; and                (2)  in a subsequent academic year, the person:                      (A)  completes at least 75 percent of the semester   credit hours attempted in the person's most recent academic year;   and                      (B)  has earned an overall grade point average of   at least 3.0 on a four-point scale or the equivalent on coursework   previously attempted at an eligible institution.          (e)  A person who is eligible to receive a scholarship under   this subchapter continues to remain eligible to receive the   scholarship if the person enrolls in or transfers to an eligible   educator preparation program at another eligible institution.          (f)  The coordinating board shall adopt rules to allow a   person who is otherwise eligible to receive a scholarship under   this subchapter, in the event of a hardship or for other good cause   shown, including a showing of a severe illness or other   debilitating condition that may affect the person's academic   performance or that the person is responsible for the care of a   sick, injured, or needy person and that the person's provision of   care may affect the person's academic performance, to receive a   scholarship under this subchapter:                (1)  while enrolled in a number of semester credit   hours that is less than the number required to be enrolled   full-time; or                (2)  if the person's grade point average or completion   rate falls below the satisfactory academic progress requirements of   Subsection (d).          (g)  A person's eligibility for a scholarship under this   subchapter ends on the earlier of:                (1)  the fourth anniversary of the initial award of a   scholarship under this subchapter to the person and the person's   enrollment in an eligible institution; or                (2)  the person's completion of the baccalaureate or   master's degree program described by Section 56.504(a)(3).          Sec. 56.506.  SCHOLARSHIP AMOUNT. (a) Beginning with the   2024-2025 academic year, the amount of a scholarship under this   subchapter is equal to the amount of the scholarship for the   preceding academic year, adjusted for inflation using the college   tuition and fees index component of the consumer price index   produced by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics.          (a-1)  For the 2023-2024 academic year, the amount of a   scholarship under this subchapter is $12,000. This subsection   expires September 1, 2024.          (b)  The amount of a scholarship under this subchapter may   not be reduced by any other scholarship, grant, or financial aid   which the scholarship recipient receives.          (c)  Not later than January 31 of each year, the coordinating   board shall publish the amounts of each scholarship established by   the board for the academic year beginning the next fall semester.          Sec. 56.507.  SCHOLARSHIP USE. A person receiving a   scholarship under this subchapter may use the money to pay any usual   and customary cost of attendance at an eligible institution   incurred by the person. The institution may disburse all or part of   the proceeds of a scholarship under this subchapter to an eligible   person only if the tuition and required fees incurred by the person   at the institution have been paid.          Sec. 56.508.  ADMINISTRATION OF PROGRAM. (a) The   coordinating board shall adopt any rules necessary to:                (1)  establish eligibility criteria for educator   preparation programs in accordance with Section 56.503 and for   scholarship recipients in accordance with Sections 56.504 and   56.505;                (2)  establish procedures for the application process   and for selecting scholarship recipients from among eligible   applicants; and                (3)  administer the scholarship program.          (b)  In establishing criteria for eligible educator   preparation programs under Section 56.503, the coordinating board   shall consult with the State Board for Educator Certification. The   coordinating board shall consider the standards used by the State   Board for Educator Certification in identifying effective,   high-quality educator preparation programs grounded in   evidence-based best practices and, to the maximum extent possible,   align the eligibility criteria to those standards.          (c)  In establishing criteria for eligible persons under   Sections 56.504 and 56.505, the coordinating board shall consult   with representatives of the educator preparation programs from   eligible institutions.          (d)  In developing rules related to distributing a   scholarship, the coordinating board shall consult with financial   aid coordinators of eligible institutions.          (e)  The total amount of scholarships awarded may not exceed   the amount available for the program from appropriations, gifts,   grants, or other funds.          (f)  From money appropriated by the legislature for the   purposes of this subchapter, the coordinating board annually shall   determine the allocation of money available for scholarships among   eligible institutions and shall distribute the money accordingly.          (g)  In determining who should receive a scholarship under   this subchapter, the coordinating board shall give priority to   awarding scholarships to:                (1)  persons who demonstrate the greatest financial   need and whose expected family contribution, as determined   according to the methodology used for federal student financial   aid, does not exceed 60 percent of the average statewide amount of   tuition and required fees;                (2)  first-generation college students, as defined by   coordinating board rule; and                (3)  persons who demonstrate a commitment both to   entering a teaching field identified by the commissioner of   education as experiencing a critical shortage of teachers and to   teaching in a public school in this state in which a majority of   students enrolled are educationally disadvantaged.          SECTION 2.  Section 56.308(b), Education Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (b)  Each school district shall:                (1)  notify its middle school students, junior high   school students, and high school students, those students' teachers   and school counselors, and those students' parents of the TEXAS   grant, [and] Teach for Texas grant, and Future Texas Teachers   Scholarship programs, the eligibility requirements of each   program, the need for students to make informed curriculum choices   to be prepared for success beyond high school, and sources of   information on higher education admissions and financial aid in a   manner that assists the district in implementing a strategy adopted   by the district under Section 11.252(a)(4); and                (2)  ensure that each student's official transcript or   diploma indicates whether the student has completed or is on   schedule to complete:                      (A)  the recommended or advanced high school   curriculum required for grant eligibility under Section 28.002 or   28.025; or                      (B)  for a school district covered by Section   56.304(f)(1), the required portion of the recommended or advanced   high school curriculum in the manner described by Section   56.304(f)(2).          SECTION 3.  (a)  The Texas Higher Education Coordinating   Board shall adopt rules to administer Subchapter S, Chapter 56,   Education Code, as added by this Act, as soon as practicable after   the effective date of this Act.          (b)  The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall   begin awarding scholarships under Subchapter S, Chapter 56,   Education Code, as added by this Act, beginning with the 2023-2024   academic year.          SECTION 4.  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.     * * * * *