SRC-SLL, DPW S.B. 1784 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterS.B. 1784 By: Gallegos Education 8/23/1999 Enrolled DIGEST Currently, Texas law identifies a number of education programs a school district must design and implement for students with special needs. Section 29.081, Education Code, grants a school district the authority to utilize community-based dropout recovery education programs to provide alternative education programs for students at risk of dropping out of school. In March 1995, the attorney general advised that school districts, which contract with public or private entities to provide educational services, are not relieved of their obligations to comply with statutory requirements applicable to school districts. The attorney general's position has prevented school districts from contracting with community-based programs that are providing creative solutions to students who have dropped out of school or are at risk of dropping out of school. S.B. 1784 gives school districts the local authority to develop and regulate community-based dropout recovery education programs in order to provide an alternative education program that parallels the needs of at-risk students. PURPOSE As enrolled, S.B. 1784 sets forth guidelines for the administration of private community-based dropout recovery education programs to provide alternative education programs for students at risk of dropping out of school. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 29.081(e), Education Code, to require certain dropout recovery education programs to provide not less than four hours of instructional time per day; employ as faculty and administrators persons with baccalaureate or advanced degrees; provide at least one instructor for each 28 students; perform satisfactorily according to performance indicators and accountability standards adopted for alternative education programs by the commissioner of education; and comply with this title and rules adopted under this title except as otherwise provided by this subsection. Deletes text requiring the program to perform certain tasks. SECTION 2. Provides that this Act applies beginning with the 1999-2000 school year. SECTION 3. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.