Floor Packet Page No. 180
      Amend CSSB 4 by inserting the following appropriately
numbered SECTIONS and by renumbering the subsequent SECTIONS of the
bill accordingly:
      SECTION ____.  (a)  Subchapter Z, Chapter 29, Education Code,
is amended by adding Section 29.903 to read as follows:
      Sec. 29.903.  CHARACTER EDUCATION PROGRAM.  (a)  Teaching
positive character traits in public schools is essential to
improving the learning environment, promoting student achievement,
reducing disciplinary problems,  and developing civic-minded
students.  Recognizing that the character of this state is only as
strong as the character of its citizens and that the state's
well-being requires involved, caring citizens of strong character,
the purposes of this section are to:
            (1)  extol and to instill in the children of this state
bedrock character traits and civic responsibility and to teach
those traits and that responsibility in a practical manner; and
            (2)  improve the behavior and enhance the future of
this state's young people by heralding sterling character traits in
personal relationships, school, the workplace, and civic life.
      (b)  Each school district may implement in district schools a
comprehensive character education program.
      (c)  A character education program under this section must:
            (1)  be secular in nature; and
            (2)  stress positive character traits, such as:
                  (A)  trustworthiness, including honesty,
reliability, and loyalty;
                  (B)  respect;
                  (C)  responsibility, including accountability,
diligence, perseverance, and self-control;
                  (D)  fairness, including justice and freedom from
prejudice;
                  (E)  caring, including kindness, empathy,
compassion, consideration, generosity, and charity; and
                  (F)  good citizenship, including concern for the
common good and the community and respect for authority and the
law.
      (d)  A district that implements a character education program
is encouraged, to the greatest extent practicable, to:
            (1)  incorporate instruction in the positive character
traits emphasized in the program into the district's regular
curriculum and classroom instruction;
            (2)  integrate the program into a school's procedures
and environment; and
            (3)  provide instruction  in the positive character
traits primarily through definition, example, illustration,
application, and participation.
      (e)  This section does not require or authorize proselytizing
or indoctrinating concerning any specific religious or political
belief.
      (f)  The agency shall maintain a list of character education
programs that meet the criteria under Subsections (c) and (d).
      (g)  The agency shall review and evaluate the effectiveness
of comprehensive character education programs that meet the
criteria under Subsections (c) and (d), assess the impact of those
programs on student discipline, academic achievement, and other
performance indicators, and include the agency's findings and
recommendations in the comprehensive biennial report required under
Section 39.182.
      (h)  The agency shall award, out of funds appropriated for
that purpose, grants to school districts for implementing and
providing innovative character education programs.
      (b)  This section applies beginning with the 1999-2000 school
year.
      SECTION ____.  (a)  Section 37.008(a), Education Code, is
amended to read as follows:
      (a)  Each school district shall provide an alternative
education program that:
            (1)  is provided in a setting other than a student's
regular classroom;
            (2)  is located on or off of a regular school campus;
            (3)  provides for the students who are assigned to the
alternative education program to be separated from students who are
not assigned to the program;
            (4)  focuses on English language arts, mathematics,
science, history, and self-discipline;
            (5)  provides for students' educational and behavioral
needs;  <and>
            (6)  provides supervision and counseling; and
            (7)  includes a comprehensive character education
program as described under Section 29.903.
      (b)  This section applies beginning with the 1999-2000 school
year.
      SECTION ____.  (a)  Section 37.011(d), Education Code, is
amended to read as follows:
      (d)  A juvenile justice alternative education program must
focus on English language arts, mathematics, science, social
studies, <and> self-discipline, and character education as
described under Sections 29.903(c) and (d).  Each school district
shall consider  course credit earned by a student while in a
juvenile justice alternative education program as credit earned in
a district school.  Each program shall administer assessment
instruments under Subchapter B, Chapter 39, and shall offer a high
school equivalency program.  The juvenile board or the board's
designee, with the parent or guardian of each student, shall
regularly review the student's academic progress.  In the case of a
high school student, the board or the board's designee, with the
student's parent or guardian, shall review the student's progress
towards meeting high school graduation requirements and shall
establish a specific graduation plan for the student.  The program
is not required to provide a course necessary to fulfill a
student's high school graduation requirements other than a course
specified by this subsection.
      (b)  This section applies beginning with the 1999-2000 school
year.