| Vote Recommendation | Economic Freedom | Property Rights | Personal Responsibility | Limited Government | Individual Liberty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
Relating to the establishment of certain programs to facilitate
early high school graduation and enrollment at public institutions
of higher education and to the repeal of the Early High School
Graduation Scholarship program.
The fiscal implications of the bill cannot be determined at
this time because it is unknown how many students would graduate early from
high school under the Texas First Early High School Completion Program and
enroll in an eligible institution under the Texas First Scholarship Program.
The Texas Education Agency and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
are required to implement this Act only if the legislature appropriates money
specifically for that purpose. If the legislature does not appropriate money
specifically for that purpose, the agency and the coordinating board may, but
are not required to, implement this Act using other appropriations available
for that purpose.
SB 1888 would require the Texas Education Agency, in coordination with the Higher Education Coordinating Board, to establish the Texas First Early High School Completion
Program to allow public high school students who demonstrate early
readiness for college to graduate early from high school. The
purpose of the program, in conjunction with the Texas First
Scholarship Program is to promote efficiency in the state public education system and
incentivize the enrollment of high performing students at eligible Texas institutions of higher education.
While we support the concept of early high school graduation for qualified students, we are concerned about the potential costs of the program envisioned by this bill. With the Legislative Budget Board declining to make a projection, the costs are unknown at this time. For these reasons Texas Action remains neutral on SB 1888.