The commission must carry out adult education program duties, set assessment and certification rules, administer funds, report outcomes, and may adopt rules for the chapter.
Sec. 315.002. COMMISSION DUTIES. (a) The commission shall: (1) provide adequate staffing, including by hiring a director, to develop, administer, and support a comprehensive statewide adult education program and coordinate related federal and state programs for the education and training of adults; (2) develop the mechanism and guidelines for the coordination of comprehensive adult education and related skill training services for adults with other entities, including public agencies and private organizations, in planning, developing, and implementing related programs; (3) administer all state and federal funds for adult education and related skill training services in this state, other than funds that another entity is specifically authorized to administer under other law; (4) prescribe and administer standards and accrediting policies for adult education; (5) prescribe and administer rules for teacher certification for adult education; (6) accept and administer grants, gifts, services, and funds from available sources for use in adult education; (7) adopt or develop and administer a standardized assessment mechanism for assessing all adult education program participants who need literacy instruction, adult basic education, or secondary education leading to an adult high school diploma or the equivalent; (8) monitor and evaluate educational and employment outcomes of students who participate in the commission's adult education and literacy programs; and (9) provide, within the context of administering adult education and literacy programs, training opportunities for parents regarding how to be the primary teachers for their children and full partners in their children's education. (b) The assessment mechanism prescribed by Subsection (a)(7) must include an initial basic skills screening instrument and must provide comprehensive information concerning baseline student skills before and student progress after participation in an adult education program. (b-1) To the extent permitted under federal law, the commission by rule shall establish: (1) annual performance requirements that each entity that receives money appropriated under this chapter must satisfy to qualify for a continuing award of funds under this chapter, which must include the achievement of enrollment targets and performance benchmarks that are comparable to those provided by Section 315.007(c); and (2) a process for giving priority in awarding funds under this chapter to entities that consistently satisfy the annual performance requirements established under Subdivision (1). (c) Not later than December 1 of each even-numbered year, the commission shall report to the legislature regarding the educational and employment outcomes of students who participate in the commission's adult education and literacy programs. (d) The commission may adopt rules for the administration of this chapter. Added by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 73 (S.B. 307), Sec. 1.01, eff. September 1, 2013. Amended by: Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 226 (H.B. 1602), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2023.