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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a study conducted by the Texas Higher Education |
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Coordinating Board on the qualification for and performance at |
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institutions of higher education of certain students who completed |
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certain mathematics courses during high school. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 61.07612 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 61.07612. STUDY ON QUALIFICATION AND PERFORMANCE OF |
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HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS COMPLETING CERTAIN MATHEMATICS COURSES. (a) |
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Each academic year, the board shall conduct a study regarding the |
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qualification for and performance at institutions of higher |
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education of students graduating from school districts in |
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low-income areas, as defined by the board, who completed certain |
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mathematics courses during high school. |
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(b) The study must include a comparison of: |
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(1) acceptance rates at institutions of higher |
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education between students who, under the foundation high school |
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program under Section 28.025, successfully completed Algebra II and |
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students who successfully completed another advanced mathematics |
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course in place of Algebra II; |
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(2) retention rates at institutions of higher |
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education between students who successfully completed the |
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curriculum requirements established under Section 28.025 for the |
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distinguished level of achievement under the foundation high school |
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program and students who did not; and |
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(3) between students who earned the science, |
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technology, engineering, and mathematics endorsement under Section |
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28.025(c-1) and students who earned another endorsement or did not |
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earn an endorsement under that section, eligibility rates for: |
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(A) the following merit-based financial aid |
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programs: |
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(i) the TEXAS grant program under |
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Subchapter M, Chapter 56; |
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(ii) the Texas Educational Opportunity |
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Grant Program under Subchapter P, Chapter 56; and |
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(iii) the Texas B-On-time loan program |
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under Subchapter Q, Chapter 56; or |
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(B) automatic admission to a general academic |
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teaching institution under Section 51.803. |
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(c) Not later than September 1 of each year, the board shall |
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submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the standing |
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legislative committees with primary jurisdiction over education a |
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report regarding the results of the study under this section and any |
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recommendations for legislative or administrative action. |
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(d) The board shall adopt rules as necessary to implement |
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this section in a manner that ensures compliance with federal law |
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regarding confidentiality of student educational information, |
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including the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (20 |
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U.S.C. Section 1232g). |
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(e) This section expires December 1, 2019. |
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SECTION 2. Not later than September 1, 2016, the Texas |
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Higher Education Coordinating Board shall submit its initial report |
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required by Section 61.07612, Education Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |