The bill amends the Education Code to expand the participation of certain juvenile justice entities in the Jobs and Education for Texans (JET) Grant Program. Specifically, it allows the Texas Juvenile Justice Department, juvenile boards, and juvenile probation departments to apply for grants alongside public junior colleges, technical institutes, state colleges, school districts, and open-enrollment charter schools. The amendments include the removal of the phrase "and school districts and open-enrollment charter schools" in certain sections, replacing it with the inclusion of the aforementioned juvenile justice entities, thereby broadening the scope of eligible applicants for the grants.

Additionally, the bill outlines that grants can be awarded for the development of new career and technical education programs specifically for these juvenile justice entities, ensuring that they can offer educational opportunities to students in their facilities. The commission is tasked with considering the potential economic returns of these programs, as well as their relevance to emerging industries and high-demand occupations. The bill emphasizes the importance of collaboration with existing educational institutions and aims to enhance educational access for students involved in the juvenile justice system.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Education Code 134.004, Education Code 134.006, Education Code 134.007 (Education Code 134)