By: Ogden S.B. No. 268
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
1-1 relating to an optional flexible year program for public school
1-2 students who would not otherwise be promoted.
1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 29, Education Code, is
1-5 amended by adding Section 29.0821 to read as follows:
1-6 Sec. 29.0821. OPTIONAL FLEXIBLE YEAR PROGRAM. (a) A school
1-7 district may apply to the commissioner for approval to provide a
1-8 flexible year program for students who would not otherwise be
1-9 promoted to the next grade level.
1-10 (b) To enable a school district to provide a program under
1-11 this section, with the approval of the commissioner, a school
1-12 district may:
1-13 (1) provide a number of days of instruction during the
1-14 regular school year that is not more than 10 days fewer than the
1-15 number required under Section 25.081(a); and
1-16 (2) use for instructional purposes not more than five
1-17 days that would otherwise be used for staff development or teacher
1-18 preparation.
1-19 (c) Notwithstanding any reduction in the number of
1-20 instruction days in the regular school year or in the number of
1-21 staff development days, each educator employed under a 10-month
1-22 contract must provide the minimum days of service required under
1-23 Section 21.401.
1-24 (d) A school district may require educational support
2-1 personnel to provide service as necessary for an optional flexible
2-2 year program.
2-3 (e) An optional flexible year program may be at the
2-4 beginning or end of the regular school year.
2-5 (f) The commissioner may adopt rules for the administration
2-6 of programs provided under this section.
2-7 SECTION 2. Subsection (a), Section 25.081, Education Code,
2-8 is amended to read as follows:
2-9 (a) Except as authorized under Subsection (b) of this
2-10 section, [or] Section 25.084, or Section 29.0821, for each school
2-11 year each school district must operate so that the district
2-12 provides for at least 180 days of instruction for students.
2-13 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
2-14 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the
2-15 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-16 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-17 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-18 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.