This section sets how school districts can earn outcomes bonuses for graduates who show college, career, or military readiness, and it requires the commissioner to set the readiness thresholds and related criteria.
Sec. 48.110. COLLEGE, CAREER, OR MILITARY READINESS OUTCOMES BONUS. (a) The purpose of this section is to further the goal set under the state's master plan for higher education developed under Section 61.051 for at least 60 percent of all adults aged 25 to 34 in this state to achieve a postsecondary degree or workforce credential by 2030. (b) For purposes of the outcomes bonus under this section, the commissioner shall determine the threshold percentage as provided by Subsection (g) for college, career, or military readiness as described by Subsection (f) for each of the following cohorts: (1) annual graduates who are educationally disadvantaged; (2) annual graduates who are not educationally disadvantaged; and (3) annual graduates who are enrolled in a special education program under Subchapter A, Chapter 29, regardless of whether the annual graduates are educationally disadvantaged. (c) Each year, the commissioner shall determine for each school district the minimum number of annual graduates in each cohort described by Subsection (b) who would have to demonstrate college, career, or military readiness as described by Subsection (f) in order for the district to achieve a percentage of college, career, or military readiness for that cohort equal to the threshold percentage established for that cohort under Subsection (b). (d) For each annual graduate in a cohort described by Subsection (b) who demonstrates college, career, or military readiness as described by Subsection (f) in excess of the minimum number of students determined for the applicable district cohort under Subsection (c), a school district is entitled to an annual outcomes bonus of: (1) if the annual graduate is educationally disadvantaged, $5,000; (2) if the annual graduate is not educationally disadvantaged, $3,000; and (3) if the annual graduate is enrolled in a special education program under Subchapter A, Chapter 29, $4,000, regardless of whether the annual graduate is educationally disadvantaged. (e) A school district is entitled to an outcomes bonus under each subdivision of Subsection (d) for which an annual graduate qualifies. (f) For purposes of this section, an annual graduate demonstrates: (1) college readiness if the annual graduate: (A) both: (i) achieves college readiness standards used for accountability purposes under Chapter 39 on the ACT, the SAT, or an assessment instrument designated by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board under Section 51.334; and (ii) during a time period established by commissioner rule, enrolls at a postsecondary educational institution; or (B) earns an associate degree from a postsecondary educational institution approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board while attending high school or during a time period established by commissioner rule; (2) career readiness if the annual graduate: (A) achieves college readiness standards used for accountability purposes under Chapter 39 on the ACT, the SAT, or an assessment instrument designated by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board under Section 51.334; and (B) during a time period established by commissioner rule, earns an industry-accepted certificate; and (3) military readiness if the annual graduate: (A) achieves a passing score set by the applicable military branch on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery; and (B) during a time period established by commissioner rule, enlists in the armed forces of the United States or the Texas National Guard. (g) The commissioner shall establish the threshold percentages under Subsection (b) using the 25th percentile of statewide college, career, or military readiness as described by Subsection (f) for the applicable cohort of annual graduates during the 2016-2017 school year. (h) On application by a school district, the commissioner may allow annual graduates from the district to satisfy the requirement for demonstrating career readiness under Subsection (f)(2)(B) by successfully completing a coherent sequence of courses required to obtain an industry-accepted certificate. The district must demonstrate in the application that the district is unable to provide sufficient courses or programs to enable students enrolled at the district to earn an industry-accepted certificate within the time period established by the commissioner under Subsection (f)(2)(B). The commissioner by rule shall provide the criteria required for an application under this subsection. (i) At least 55 percent of the funds allocated under this section must be used in grades 8 through 12 to improve college, career, and military readiness outcomes as described by Subsection (f). Added by Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 943 (H.B. 3), Sec. 1.031, eff. September 1, 2019. Amended by: Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 205 (H.B. 1147), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2021. Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 806 (H.B. 1525), Sec. 28, eff. September 1, 2021. Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1065 (H.B. 2), Sec. 4.57, eff. September 1, 2025. Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1137 (S.B. 568), Sec. 58, eff. September 1, 2025.