Texas § ED.28.0257 - DIRECT ADMISSIONS DATA SHARING OPT-IN ELECTION FOR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION

§ ED.28.0257. DIRECT ADMISSIONS DATA SHARING OPT-IN ELECTION FOR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION

DIRECT ADMISSIONS DATA SHARING OPT-IN ELECTION FOR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION. (a) In this section: (1) "Coordinating board" means the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. (2) "Institution of higher education" has the meaning assigned by Section 61.003 . (b) Except as provided by Subsection (c), before graduating from high school, each student must elect whether to opt in to allowing the coordinating board to share the student's data and education records, as necessary, with institutions of higher education to allow the student to participate in the direct admissions program established by the coordinating board pursuant to Section 61.0511 (b)(2). (c) A student is not required to comply with Subsection (b) if: (1) the student's parent or other person standing in parental relation submits a signed form indicating that the parent or other person authorizes the student to decline to complete and submit information necessary to participate in a program offered under Subsection (b); (2) the student signs and submits the form described by Subdivision (1) on the student's own behalf if the student is 18 years of age or older or the student's disabilities of minority have been removed for general purposes under Chapter 31 , Family Code; or (3) a school counselor authorizes in writing the student to decline to complete and submit the information necessary to participate in a program offered under Subsection (b). (d) Each school district or open-enrollment charter school shall use a form adopted by the coordinating board, in consultation with the Texas Education Agency, to allow a student to opt out pursuant to Subsection (c). The form shall: (1) provide the student or the student's parent or other person standing in parental relation, as applicable, the opportunity to elect whether to share the student's data or education records, as necessary, with institutions of higher education to facilitate the student's participation in a program offered under Subsection (b); and (2) be made available in English, Spanish, and any other language spoken by a majority of the students enrolled in a bilingual education or special language program under Subchapter B , Chapter 29 , in the district or school. Added by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 77 (S.B. 2314 ), Sec. 2, eff. May 19, 2025.