The Texas House passed a bill on Wednesday that would provide more funding for Texas community colleges.
House Bill 8 is sponsored by Rep. Gary VanDeaver, R-New Boston, and it would provide millions of dollars for community colleges, per The Texas Tribune.
“Through this bill, you are setting Texas on a path to meet the workforce challenges that we know exist today and will only increase in the future,” VanDeaver said to the House on Wednesday, per The Texas Tribune. “But more than that, members, be proud that through this bill you are creating generational change for Texas families for years to come.”
The bill was modeled after recommendations made last year from a commission of lawmakers and community college presidents VanDeaver served on.
The recommendation called for improved funding for the 50 community colleges in Texas, improvements for high school students seeking college credit, low-income students seeking grants, and the development of workforce programs that help students get jobs, per The Texas Tribune.
House Speaker Dade Phelan prioritized the bill. It contained more than 90 co-authors by the time it was passed on Wednesday, per the Austin American-Statesman.
VanDeaver’s office estimated a 31% increase in funding for community colleges, resulting in an additional $305 million in 2024, per The Texas Tribune. VanDeaver believes the bill would provide a “more reliable, dependable funding stream” to community colleges across the state, per The Texas Tribune.
The exact criteria for funding have yet to be decided, but there has been discussion about how it may work. Funding for individual colleges is expected to be based mainly on the number of students who graduate with a degree, complete 15 hours of course credit, or transfer to four-year universities, per The Austin American-Statesman. The bill would also include some guaranteed funding for smaller colleges.
Katy Launius, an education policy expert with the Lumina Foundation, told The Texas Tribune that the hard part would be implementing the funding.
“A lot of people are talking about this as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but passing it is only half the battle,” said Launius, per The Texas Tribune. “The real work comes in what the implementation of policy looks like.”
Chancellors and presidents at community colleges have voiced their support for the bill. Tarrant County College Chancellor Elva LeBlanc believed the bill would elevate the colleges and create opportunities for students.
“The new funding model will be a game changer in elevating the capacity of community colleges to build a talent-strong workforce throughout the state,” LeBlanc said, per TCC. “More than ever, community colleges have the opportunity to be a vital partner with the communities we serve as an engine for economic development and a pathway for all to high-demand and high-wage careers. Careers that build opportunity and social mobility for those we are privileged to serve.”
The bill is now on its way to the Texas State Senate.
Trackbacks/Pingbacks