Scholastic Dishonesty

Texas Education Code Sec. 28.009 College Credit Program

(a)

Each school district shall implement a program under which students may earn the equivalent of at least 12 semester credit hours of college credit in high school. On request, a public institution of higher education in this state shall assist a school district in developing and implementing the program. The college credit may be earned through:

international baccalaureate, advanced placement, or dual credit courses;

articulated postsecondary courses provided for local credit or articulated postsecondary advanced technical credit courses provided for state credit; or

any combination of the courses described by Subdivisions (1) and (2).

(a-1)

A program implemented under this section may provide a student the opportunity to earn credit for a course or activity, including an apprenticeship or training hours:

that:

satisfies a requirement necessary to obtain an industry-recognized credential or certificate or an associate degree; and

is approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board; and

for which a student may earn credit concurrently toward both the students high school diploma and postsecondary academic requirements.

(a-2)

A school district is not required to pay a students tuition or other associated costs for taking a course under this section.

(a-4)

A dual credit course offered under this section must be:

in the core curriculum of the public institution of higher education providing college credit;

a career and technical education course; or

a foreign language course.

(a-5)

Subsection (a-4) does not apply to a dual credit course offered as part of the early college education program established under Section 29.908 or any other early college program that assists a student in earning a certificate or an associate degree while in high school.

(b)

The agency shall coordinate with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board as necessary in administering this section. The commissioner may adopt rules as necessary concerning the duties under this section of a school district. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board may adopt rules as necessary concerning the duties under this section of a public institution of higher education. A rule may not limit:

the number of dual credit courses or hours in which a student may enroll while in high school;

the number of dual credit courses or hours in which a student may enroll each semester or academic year; or

the grade levels at which a high school student may be eligible to enroll in a dual credit course.

(b)

The agency shall coordinate with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board as necessary in administering this section. The commissioner may adopt rules as necessary concerning the duties under this section of a school district. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board may adopt rules as necessary concerning the duties under this section of a public institution of higher education. A rule may not limit the number of dual credit courses or semester credit hours in which a student may enroll while in high school or limit the number of dual credit courses or semester credit hours in which a student may enroll each semester or academic year.

(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:

a dual credit programs achievement of enrollment in and acceleration through postsecondary education;

performance in college-level coursework; and

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:

include specific program goals aligned with the statewide goals developed under Subsection (b-1);

establish common advising strategies and terminology related to dual credit and college readiness;

provide for the alignment of endorsements described by Section 28.025(c-1) offered by the district, and dual credit courses offered under the agreement that apply towards those endorsements, with postsecondary pathways and credentials at the institution and industry certifications;

identify tools, including tools developed by the agency, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, or the Texas Workforce Commission, to assist school counselors, students, and families in selecting endorsements offered by the district and dual credit courses offered under the agreement;

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;

describe the academic supports and, if applicable, guidance that will be provided to students participating in the program;

establish the districts and the institutions respective roles and responsibilities in providing the program and ensuring the quality and instructional rigor of the program;

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

be posted each year on the districts and the institutions respective Internet websites.

(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:

include specific program goals aligned with the statewide goals developed under Subsection (b-1);

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;

describe the academic supports and, if applicable, guidance that will be provided to students participating in the program;

establish the districts and the institutions respective roles and responsibilities in providing the program and ensuring the quality and instructional rigor of the program;

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;

require the district and the institution to consider the use of free or low-cost open educational resources in courses offered under the program; and

be posted each year on the districts and the institutions respective Internet websites.

(b-3)

The agency and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall coordinate as necessary to adopt rules for the implementation of Subsections (a-4) and (a-5). In adopting those rules, the agency and the coordinating board shall use the negotiated rulemaking procedures under Chapter 2008, Government Code, and consult with relevant stakeholders.

(c)

The commissioner and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall share data as necessary to enable school districts to comply with this subsection. Each school district shall annually report to the agency:

the number of district students, including career and technical students, who have participated in the program and earned college credit; and

the cumulative number of courses in which participating district students have enrolled and college credit hours the students have earned.

Dual Credit Handbook