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. School districts and charter schools are tasked with determining eligibility based on their records and notifying higher education institutions, while the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board is required to provide relevant data to assist in these determinations.

The bill also introduces provisions for the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to adopt emergency rules to align funding formulas with legislative actions and establishes criteria for designating "credentials of value" based on return on investment. It mandates a biennial assessment of regional labor demands to ensure educational programs align with workforce needs, utilizing state and federal labor market data. The commission is authorized to collaborate with other state agencies for this assessment and must report findings to state officials and educational institutions by March 1 of each odd-numbered year. The new provisions will take effect starting with the 2025-2026 school year.

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