Public junior colleges may apply to run an alternative competency-based high school diploma program, and the coordinating board must review and approve qualifying applications, with a cap of five approved colleges.
Sec. 130.454. APPROVAL OF ALTERNATIVE HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA PROGRAM. (a) A public junior college may submit to the coordinating board an application to participate in the program. The application must propose an alternative competency-based high school diploma program to be offered for concurrent enrollment to adult students without a high school diploma who are enrolled in a workforce education program at the college. The proposed program may include any combination of instruction, curriculum, achievement, internships, or other means by which a student may attain knowledge sufficient to adequately prepare the student for postsecondary education or additional workforce education. (b) A public junior college may submit an application under Subsection (a) together with one or more public junior colleges, general academic teaching institutions, public school districts, or nonprofit organizations with whom the proposed program described by that subsection will be offered as provided by Subsection (e). (c) The coordinating board may approve not more than five public junior colleges to participate in the program. (d) Subject to Subsection (c), the coordinating board shall review and approve a public junior college's application to participate in the program if the board determines that the college's proposed program described by Subsection (a) will provide instruction and assessments appropriate to ensure that a student who successfully completes the proposed program demonstrates levels of knowledge sufficient to adequately prepare the student for postsecondary education or additional workforce education. The coordinating board may coordinate with the Texas Education Agency as necessary to make a determination under this subsection. (e) A public junior college approved to participate in the program may: (1) enter into an agreement with one or more public junior colleges, general academic teaching institutions, public school districts, or nonprofit organizations to offer the program described by Subsection (a); and (2) offer the program described by Subsection (a) at any campus of the college or an entity with which the college has entered into an agreement under Subdivision (1). Added by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 378 (H.B. 8), Sec. 45, eff. June 9, 2023. Added by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 967 (S.B. 2139), Sec. 1, eff. June 18, 2023.