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 institutions of higher education. 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. It mandates a biennial assessment of regional labor demands to align educational programs with workforce needs, utilizing state and federal labor market data. The assessment will identify industries and occupations that lead to self-sufficient wages and must be reported to state officials and educational institutions by March 1 of each odd-numbered year. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board is also authorized to adopt emergency rules for the 2025-2026 academic year and evaluate the transition to a county-by-county definition of self-sufficient wages by December 1, 2026, with implementation beginning in the 2025-2026 school year.

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