Texas House Bill HB 4746

Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

• Filed: 3/13/25
• Out of House Committee: 5/10/25

Caption

Relating to academic distinction designations under the public school accountability system and the career and technology allotment under the Foundation School Program.

Summary

HB 4746 revises two parts of Texas education law. First, it updates the academic distinction designation for school districts and campuses under the public school accountability system so the commissioner must consider additional measures of postsecondary readiness. Those measures include students earning industry certifications, completing coherent career and technical education sequences, earning dual credit or articulated postsecondary credit, meeting college-readiness benchmarks on exams such as the PSAT, SAT, ACT, or ACT-Plan, earning AP or IB credit, and completing P-TECH or other early college high school programs. The bill also keeps the existing focus on student performance and improvement on state assessments. Second, the bill changes the Foundation School Program’s career and technology allotment for P-TECH campuses. Instead of a smaller per-student amount tied to multiple campus types, a district would receive $150 for each student in average daily attendance enrolled at a campus designated as a P-TECH school. The bill applies beginning with the 2025-2026 school year and would take effect immediately if it receives the constitutionally required two-thirds vote, otherwise on September 1, 2025.

Impact

The bill would amend Sections 39.202 and 48.106 of the Education Code, expanding the accountability framework for academic distinction designations and increasing state funding support for students enrolled in P-TECH schools. It would affect school districts, campuses, and the Texas Education Agency by requiring rulemaking or implementation changes to incorporate broader postsecondary-readiness indicators, and it would increase the per-student allotment for qualifying P-TECH campuses under the Foundation School Program.

Sentiment

The available record suggests generally positive or at least noncontroversial treatment of the bill, with no recorded committee transcript debate or vote breakdown provided. The bill’s focus on career readiness, dual credit, certifications, and early college pathways indicates support for workforce-aligned and college-preparatory education initiatives. Its placement on the General State Calendar suggests it advanced through the House process without any documented public opposition in the materials provided.

Contention

The main policy questions raised by the bill are likely to concern how much weight should be given to non-test indicators in academic distinction designations and whether the increased P-TECH allotment is sufficient or appropriately targeted. Potential points of contention may include the cost of the funding change, whether the new accountability criteria fairly measure school performance across different campus types, and whether emphasizing P-TECH and other career pathways could disadvantage schools that serve different student populations. No specific objections or named opponents appear in the provided discussion or voting history.