Enrolled Bill Summary

            Senate Bill 976 amends the Education Code to require each district-level and middle, junior high, or high school campus-level planning and decision-making committee to analyze specific items of information related to dropout prevention and to use that information in developing district or campus improvement plans. If a district is rated academically unacceptable for two years or more because of its dropout rates, the bill requires the commissioner of education to impose specific sanctions designed to improve high school completion rates.

            The bill requires the commissioner to establish a middle college education pilot program for students at risk of dropping out of school or wishing to accelerate high school completion, enabling them to combine high school and college-level courses in grades 11 and 12, finish high school, and simultaneously receive at least a high school diploma and associate degree, or access postsecondary educational and training opportunities at a college, university, or technical school campus. It also requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to establish a pilot program to study the feasibility of allowing junior colleges to offer bachelor's degree programs in applied science and applied technology, and it requires the board to prepare a progress report not later than January 1, 2009, and a final report with its findings and recommendations to the legislature not later than January 1, 2011.