85R11820 KJE-D     By: Miles S.B. No. 1271       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.