SRC-CTC C.S.S.B. 1102 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 1102
77R12345 CAS-DBy: Barrientos
Education
5/3/2001
Committee Report (Substituted)


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, there is not a method to determine what exactly happens to
students who disappear from Texas schools.  The current tracking system
notes students that leave as if they transfer to another high school,
failing to verify that the student has enrolled at another institution
where the student can receive a high school diploma.  This creates
misleading statistics regarding the high school dropout rate in Texas.
C.S.S.B. 1102 requires that a comprehensive survey be conducted to obtain
information concerning persons who drop out of school in order to gain a
more accurate measure of the dropout situation in Texas. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a
state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  (a) Requires the Office of Survey Research (office) in the
College of Communication at The University of Texas at Austin, in
accordance with this section, to design and conduct a thorough, statewide,
scientific, statistical survey to obtain information concerning children
who drop out of school and prepare a report based on that information. 
 
(b) Requires the persons conducting the survey required under Subsection
(a) to poll certain persons and attempt to obtain certain information 

 (c) Requires the results of the survey to:

  _be compared with official Texas Education Agency (agency) dropout data;

  _indicate variations in results in various regions of the state;

_be used by the agency in developing policies to address the needs of
students at risk of dropping out of school, as defined by Section 29.081,
Education Code, including, to the extent necessary, policies to address the
specific needs of students in various regions of the state; 
 
_be compiled by the office into a report, together with certain information
required under this subsection and any recommendations arising from the
results, and submitted to the legislature not later than January 31, 2003. 

(d) Requires the agency to cooperate with the office as necessary for the
office to carry out its duties under this Act. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2001.

 SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES

Amends As Filed S.B. 1102 by removing and adding text relating to the
development and execution of a specific survey.