By: West  S.B. No. 1903          (In the Senate - Filed March 10, 2017; March 23, 2017, read   first time and referred to Committee on Education; May 3, 2017,   reported favorably by the following vote:  Yeas 10, Nays 0;   May 3, 2017, sent to printer.)Click here to see the committee vote    A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT     relating to statewide goals for dual credit programs provided by   school districts.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 28.009, Education Code, is amended by   adding Subsections (b-1) and (b-2) to read as follows:          (b-1)  The agency and the Texas Higher Education   Coordinating Board jointly shall develop statewide goals for dual   credit programs, including early college high school programs,   career and technical education dual credit programs, and joint high   school and college credit programs provided under Section 130.008,   to provide uniform standards for evaluating those programs. The   goals must address, at a minimum:                (1)  a dual credit program's achievement of enrollment   in and acceleration through postsecondary education;                (2)  performance in college-level coursework; and                (3)  the development of an effective bridge between   secondary and postsecondary education in the state.          (b-2)  Any agreement, including a memorandum of   understanding or articulation agreement, between a school district   and public institution of higher education to provide a dual credit   program described by Subsection (b-1) must:                (1)  include specific program goals aligned with the   statewide goals developed under Subsection (b-1);                (2)  establish, or provide a procedure for   establishing, the course credits that may be earned under the   agreement, including by developing a course equivalency crosswalk   or other method for equating high school courses with college   courses and identifying the number of credits that may be earned for   each course completed through the program;                (3)  describe the academic supports and, if applicable,   guidance that will be provided to students participating in the   program;                (4)  establish the district's and the institution's   respective roles and responsibilities in providing the program and   ensuring the quality and instructional rigor of the program;                (5)  state the sources of funding for courses offered   under the program, including, at a minimum, the sources of funding   for tuition, transportation, and any required fees or textbooks for   students participating in the program; and                (6)  be posted each year on the district's and the   institution's respective Internet websites.          SECTION 2.  Not later than August 31, 2018, the Texas   Education Agency and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board   jointly shall develop the statewide goals required under Section   28.009(b-1), Education Code, as added by this Act.          SECTION 3.  Section 28.009(b-2), Education Code, as added by   this Act, applies only to an agreement to provide a dual credit   program entered into or renewed on or after September 1, 2018.          SECTION 4.  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, 2017.     * * * * *