S.B. No. 1786 is a legislative bill designed to enhance public higher education in Texas by amending the Education Code. It includes the Windham School District in the definition of "school district" and modifies eligibility criteria for dual credit courses, allowing students in grades 9 through 12 who have been educationally disadvantaged in the current or previous four years to enroll at no cost. The bill also requires school districts and charter schools to determine student eligibility based on their records and notify higher education institutions accordingly. Additionally, it empowers the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to adopt rules for administering federal financial aid and grant programs without the need for negotiated rulemaking.

The bill further establishes a framework for designating "credentials of value" that provide a positive return on investment for students and coordinates grant programs for career and technical education to align with state workforce development goals. It mandates a biennial assessment of regional labor demands, utilizing state and federal labor market data, to help higher education institutions align their programs with workforce needs. The commission is tasked with analyzing workforce needs over a 10-year period and identifying industries that lead to self-sufficient wages. The bill allows collaboration with other state agencies for the assessment and outlines data sharing agreements and timelines for implementing new rules related to associate degrees and certificate programs. It is set to take effect immediately upon a two-thirds vote or on September 1, 2025, if that threshold is not met.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Education Code 28.0095, Education Code 61.003 (Education Code 61, Education Code 28)
Senate Committee Report: Education Code 28.0095, Education Code 61.003, Labor Code 204.0025 (Education Code 61, Labor Code 204, Education Code 28)
Engrossed: Education Code 28.0095, Education Code 61.003, Labor Code 204.0025 (Education Code 61, Labor Code 204, Education Code 28)
House Committee Report: Education Code 28.0095, Education Code 61.003, Labor Code 204.0025 (Education Code 61, Labor Code 204, Education Code 28)
Enrolled: Education Code 28.0095, Education Code 61.003, Labor Code 204.0025 (Education Code 61, Labor Code 204, Education Code 28)