Bill: SB 1004, 84(R) - 2015

Committee

Senate Education

Vote Recommendation

Vote Recommendation Economic Freedom Property Rights Personal Responsibility Limited Government Individual Liberty
Yes Neutral Neutral Neutral Positive Neutral

Author(s)

Paul Bettencourt

Bill Caption

Relating to the school district students to whom certain public junior colleges may offer certain courses and programs.

Fiscal Notes

No significant fiscal implication to the State.

Local Government

The provisions of the bill would apply to 25 school districts located wholly or partially within Harris County. These districts could incur voluntary costs to contract with eligible junior colleges for remedial programs and dropout recovery programs. Based on information provided by a sample of public junior colleges, any costs associated with the implementation of the bill could be absorbed within the institution's existing resources.

Bill Analysis

SB 1004 would permit the Houston Independent School District (HISD) and other school districts in Harris County and surrounding counties to contract with any of the 10 community college districts in the region to enter into an articulation agreement for dropout recovery programs. The bill would permit the Houston Independent School District (HISD) and other school districts in Harris County and surrounding counties to contract with any of the 10 community college districts in the region to contract to provide remedial programs in preparation for graduation from secondary school and entrance into college. Students attending these school districts would not be limited to the number of dual credit courses they could take. Public junior colleges in the same service areas would be able to offer the same courses. Students in eligible school districts would be able to enroll in a course in any public junior college that had entered into an agreement with an eligible school district.

Vote Recommendation Notes

This bill affirms the principle of limited government by allowing a school district for state education and community college districts to work together to alleviate the problem of students dropping out and not finishing their education. 

It also would help provide quality education courses and expand the curriculum students have access to. For this reason, we support SB 1004 since it eliminates regulation that would not allow the district and community colleges to work together. 


Source URL (retrieved on 03/28/2024 05:03 PM): http://reports.texasaction.com/bill/84r/sb1004?print_view=true