88R3757 ANG-F     By: Lambert H.B. No. 4383       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to measures to assist small and rural school districts in   implementing a collegiate model and expanding broadband access,   including the establishment of the Rural Schools and Communities   Technical Assistance Center and a grant program.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Chapter 30, Education Code, is amended by adding   Subchapter F to read as follows:   SUBCHAPTER F. RURAL SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE   CENTER          Sec. 30.151.  DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "center"   means the Rural Schools and Communities Technical Assistance   Center.          Sec. 30.152.  ESTABLISHMENT; PURPOSE. The Rural Schools and   Communities Technical Assistance Center is established to assist   small and rural school districts with the implementation and   expansion of the Collegiate Edu-Nation P-20 System Model for 21st   Century School Transformation in cooperation with the agency and to   further ensure better economic and life opportunities by   facilitating the expansion of broadband development in rural   communities.          Sec. 30.153.  DUTIES OF CENTER. (a) The center shall   facilitate the tri-agency alignment for rural students by   collaborating with the agency, the Texas Higher Education   Coordinating Board, and the Texas Workforce Commission.          (b)  The center shall assist participating school districts   in implementing the Collegiate Edu-Nation P-20 System Model for   21st-Century School Transformation to:                (1)  combat generational poverty by fostering high   aspirations and expectations among students, families, and   communities for college and career success, with an emphasis on   workforce shortage areas;                (2)  support attainment of the state's long-range   master plan for higher education developed under Section 61.051;   and                (3)  support implementation of the Pathways in   Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) programs in   participating school districts under Subchapter N, Chapter 29.          Sec. 30.154.  SELECTION OF CENTER. The commissioner shall   select a nonprofit organization to serve as the center and support   school districts awarded a planning or implementation grant under   this subchapter. The selected nonprofit organization must have:                (1)  an individual on staff who has previously   implemented a collegiate model in a rural school district; and                (2)  a demonstrated history of:                      (A)  successfully managing rural schools; and                      (B)  supporting multiple rural school districts   in implementing a collegiate model.          Sec. 30.155.  PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS. (a) The   commissioner shall annually award planning grants to rural or small   school districts, as determined by commissioner rule, to plan for   the implementation of a collegiate model.          (b)  The agency shall evaluate each school district that   receives a planning grant under Subsection (a). If the agency   determines that the district successfully completed planning   activities, the commissioner shall award the district a one-year   grant to implement a collegiate model.          (c)  The agency shall evaluate each school district that   receives an implementation grant under Subsection (b). If the   agency determines that the district successfully completed   implementation activities in the first year of implementation, the   commissioner shall award the district an additional one-year   implementation grant.          Sec. 30.156.  EXPECTED OUTCOMES. (a) By the conclusion of   the second year of implementation of a collegiate model using a   grant awarded under Section 30.155(c), the school district must:                (1)  have implemented:                      (A)  a dual credit program or a joint high school   and college credit program;                      (B)  a Pathways in Technology Early College High   School (P-TECH) program under Subchapter N, Chapter 29;                      (C)  a research-based college readiness program   for grades 7 through 12;                      (D)  student college and career coaching;                      (E)  a common instructional framework and monthly   instructional review and improvement cycles;                      (F)  project-based learning experiences in a   majority of courses offered by the district;                      (G)  career and technical education programs;                      (H)  work-based learning opportunities, including   paid student apprenticeships in science, technology, engineering,   or mathematics workforce shortage areas;                      (I)  formal industry partnerships specific to   local workforce needs as identified by regional offices of the   Texas Workforce Commission;                      (J)  research-based, nationally norm-referenced   formative assessments; or                      (K)  access to a personal laptop or other   electronic device for each student; and                (2)  demonstrate progress toward the goal of 90 percent   of graduating students concurrently earning a high school diploma   and an associate degree or an industry-recognized certification by   ensuring that at least 30 percent of high school students enrolled   in the district are enrolled in college courses.          (b)  If a school district that received a grant under Section   30.155(c) does not achieve the expected outcomes under Subsection   (a), the center shall work with the district to develop and   implement an intervention plan to support the district in achieving   those outcomes.          Sec. 30.157.  SUPPORT OF RURAL BROADBAND INITIATIVES. Each   school district that receives a grant under Section 30.155 shall   work closely with relevant state agencies to assist in expanding   access, adoption, and use of broadband in rural areas to benefit   educational opportunities and economic development.          SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.