88R2111 KJE-F     By: Rogers H.B. No. 3676       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the creation of a rural dual credit pilot program by the   Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is   amended by adding Section 61.0765 to read as follows:          Sec. 61.0765.  RURAL DUAL CREDIT PILOT PROGRAM. (a) The   board shall establish a pilot program under which the board awards   grants to participating public junior colleges to provide financial   assistance to educationally disadvantaged high school students for   all or part of the cost of enrolling in dual credit courses at the   college.          (b)  The board shall select not more than 10 public junior   colleges in the small or medium public junior college peer group, as   identified by the board, to participate in the pilot program. In   selecting public junior colleges, the board shall, to the extent   practicable, ensure that at least one public junior college from   each region of the state is included.          (c)  A participating public junior college must:                (1)  use grant funds awarded under this section to   provide financial assistance to eligible students for all or part   of the cost of tuition and required fees for dual credit courses at   the college;                (2)  work with high schools that partner with the   college to provide dual credit courses and elect to participate in   the pilot program to:                      (A)  inform eligible students regarding the pilot   program and how those courses relate to postsecondary education and   career paths; and                      (B)  assist eligible students in applying to   enroll in those courses; and                (3)  collect and report to the board data on:                      (A)  participation rates of eligible students in   the pilot program;                      (B)  outreach efforts regarding the pilot   program; and                      (C)  the percentage of eligible students   receiving financial assistance under the pilot program who graduate   from high school:                            (i)  in the top 10 percent of the student's   high school class; or                            (ii)  with a workforce certificate or   credential.          (d)  A student is eligible to receive financial assistance   under the pilot program if the student:                (1)  is educationally disadvantaged, as defined by   Section 5.001;                (2)  is enrolled in a participating public or private   high school, including a home school, in the service area of a   participating public junior college; and                (3)  has completed less than 60 semester credit hours   at an institution of higher education.          (e)  Funds provided to an eligible student under the pilot   program must be used for the cost of tuition or required fees for   dual credit courses at the participating public junior college.          (f)  A public or private high school, including a home   school, that partners with a participating public junior college to   provide dual credit courses and elects to participate in the pilot   program must provide to students in grade nine or the equivalent   information regarding dual credit opportunities and the funding   available for dual credit courses under the pilot program.          (g)  Not later than December 1, 2024, the board shall   evaluate the effectiveness of the pilot program and report the   results of the evaluation to the legislature. In evaluating the   pilot program, the board shall determine:                (1)  any increase in:                      (A)  the rate of participation of eligible   students in dual credit courses;                      (B)  the number of dual credit semester credit   hours or the equivalent attempted by eligible students; and                      (C)  the number of eligible students who graduate   from high school:                            (i)  in the top 10 percent of the student's   high school class; or                            (ii)  with a workforce certificate or   credential; and                (2)  whether the pilot program should be expanded to   all public junior colleges in the small and medium peer groups, as   identified by the board.          (h)  This section expires September 1, 2025.          SECTION 2.  The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board   shall establish the pilot program under Section 61.0765, Education   Code, as added by this Act, as soon as practicable following the   effective date of this Act.          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, 2023.