A new bill has been introduced in the Texas legislature that would revamp how the state gives its community colleges money, KXAN reported.
Rep. Gary VanDeaver
House Bill 8 – filed Wednesday by Texas Rep. Gary VanDeaver, would alter the funding formula for money that the state gives its 50 community college districts, effective Sept. 1. This move comes after a recommendation for state funding based on “measurable outcomes” from a 2022 commission the Texas legislature created.
The legislation would allocate funding to schools based on “measurable outcomes,” such as number of credentials of value awarded; number of students who earn at least 15 credit hours and transfer to a university; and number of students who finish 15 credit hours or dual credit courses that are used toward academic/workforce program requirements.
Credentials of value include degrees, certificates, and other credentials from credit that prepares students for learning and greater earnings in the state economy, according to the bill. And additional weight is given for credentials in high-demand fields.
Currently, the state funds schools based on college performance in relation to one another, enrollment, course types, “success points” metrics, and a uniform amount of “core” funding.
The bill could also create a scholarship program for economically disadvantaged students in dual-credit courses.
