1-1 By: Ogden S.B. No. 268
1-2 (In the Senate - Filed January 25, 1999; January 28, 1999,
1-3 read first time and referred to Committee on Education;
1-4 April 19, 1999, reported adversely, with favorable Committee
1-5 Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 8, Nays 0; April 19, 1999,
1-6 sent to printer.)
1-7 COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 268 By: Ogden
1-8 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-9 AN ACT
1-10 relating to an optional flexible year program for public school
1-11 students who would not otherwise be promoted.
1-12 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-13 SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 29, Education Code, is
1-14 amended by adding Section 29.0821 to read as follows:
1-15 Sec. 29.0821. OPTIONAL FLEXIBLE YEAR PROGRAM. (a) A school
1-16 district may apply to the commissioner for approval to provide a
1-17 flexible year program for students who would not otherwise be
1-18 promoted to the next grade level.
1-19 (b) To enable a school district to provide a program under
1-20 this section, with the approval of the commissioner, a school
1-21 district may:
1-22 (1) provide a number of days of instruction during the
1-23 regular school year that is not more than 10 days fewer than the
1-24 number required under Section 25.081(a); and
1-25 (2) use for instructional purposes not more than five
1-26 days that would otherwise be used for staff development or teacher
1-27 preparation.
1-28 (c) Notwithstanding any reduction in the number of
1-29 instruction days in the regular school year or in the number of
1-30 staff development days, each educator employed under a 10-month
1-31 contract must provide the minimum days of service required under
1-32 Section 21.401.
1-33 (d) A school district may require educational support
1-34 personnel to provide service as necessary for an optional flexible
1-35 year program.
1-36 (e) An optional flexible year program may be at the
1-37 beginning or end of the regular school year.
1-38 (f) The commissioner may adopt rules for the administration
1-39 of programs provided under this section.
1-40 SECTION 2. Subsection (a), Section 25.081, Education Code,
1-41 is amended to read as follows:
1-42 (a) Except as authorized under Subsection (b) of this
1-43 section, [or] Section 25.084, or Section 29.0821, for each school
1-44 year each school district must operate so that the district
1-45 provides for at least 180 days of instruction for students.
1-46 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
1-47 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the
1-48 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-49 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-50 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
1-51 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.
1-52 * * * * *