Downloads
CS/HB 1157 — Postsecondary Education for Veterans
by Higher Education and Workforce Subcommittee; and Rep. Raburn and others (CS/SB 1638 by Appropriations Committee and Senator Lee)
This summary is provided for information only and does not represent the opinion of any Senator, Senate Officer, or Senate Office.
Prepared by: Higher Education Committee (HE)
The bill expands the mechanism through which eligible members of the United States Armed Forces can earn college credit for military experience. Specifically, the bill:
- Requires the Department of Education (department) to annually, identify and publish minimum scores, maximum credit, and course or courses for which college credit must be awarded for the specified tests:
- Excelsior College subject examination.
- Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) subject standardized test.
- Defense Language Proficiency Test (DLPT).
- Modifies the residency requirements for recipients of a Purple Heart or other combat decoration superior in precedence to qualify for a waiver from tuition for undergraduate college credit programs and career certificate programs if such recipients are currently or were at the time of the military action that resulted in the awarding of the combat decoration, residents of this state.
- Adds new methods for demonstrating mastery of subject area knowledge for educator certification purposes by allowing individuals to demonstrate subject area competency through documentation of:
- Successful completion of a United States Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center program, or
- A passing score on the DLPT.
If approved by the Governor, these provisions take effect July 1, 2016.
Vote: Senate 40-0; House 114-0