By: Ogden S.B. No. 266
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to an optional flexible year program for public school
1-3 students who fail to perform satisfactorily on an assessment
1-4 instrument or who would not otherwise be promoted.
1-5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-6 SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 29, Education Code, is
1-7 amended by adding Section 29.0821 to read as follows:
1-8 Sec. 29.0821. OPTIONAL FLEXIBLE YEAR PROGRAM. (a) A school
1-9 district may apply to the commissioner for approval to provide a
1-10 flexible year program for students who did not pass an assessment
1-11 instrument administered under Section 39.023 or who would not
1-12 otherwise be promoted to the next grade level.
1-13 (b) To enable a school district to provide additional
1-14 instructional days for a program under this section, with the
1-15 approval of the commissioner, a school district may:
1-16 (1) provide a number of days of instruction during the
1-17 regular school year that is not more than 10 days fewer than the
1-18 number required under Section 25.081(a); and
1-19 (2) use for instructional purposes not more than five
1-20 days that would otherwise be used for staff development or teacher
1-21 preparation.
1-22 (c) Notwithstanding any reduction in the number of
1-23 instructional days in the regular school year or in the number of
1-24 staff development days, each educator employed under a 10-month
1-25 contract must provide the minimum days of service required under
2-1 Section 21.401.
2-2 (d) A school district may require educational support
2-3 personnel to provide service as necessary for an optional flexible
2-4 year program.
2-5 (e) An optional flexible year program may be at the
2-6 beginning or end of the regular school year.
2-7 (f) The commissioner may adopt rules for the administration
2-8 of programs provided under this section.
2-9 SECTION 2. Subsection (a), Section 25.081, Education Code,
2-10 is amended to read as follows:
2-11 (a) Except as authorized under Subsection (b) of this
2-12 section, [or] Section 25.084, or Section 29.0821, for each school
2-13 year each school district must operate so that the district
2-14 provides for at least 180 days of instruction for students.
2-15 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.