By Barrientos S.B. No. 1102 77R7791 CAS-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to a survey concerning persons who drop out of school. 1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-4 SECTION 1. (a) In accordance with this section, the Office 1-5 of Survey Research in the College of Communication at The 1-6 University of Texas at Austin, in consultation with the Legislative 1-7 Budget Board and one or more nonprofit organizations designated by 1-8 the Office of Survey Research from among nonprofit organizations 1-9 that have previously conducted studies on dropout statistics in 1-10 this state, shall design and conduct a thorough, statewide, 1-11 scientific, statistical survey to obtain information concerning 1-12 persons who drop out of school and shall prepare a report based on 1-13 that information. 1-14 (b) In conducting the survey required under Subsection (a) 1-15 of this section, the persons conducting the survey shall: 1-16 (1) poll: 1-17 (A) parents of children of secondary school age 1-18 in all regions in this state; and 1-19 (B) persons in all regions of this state who are 1-20 at least 18 years of age but not older than 24 years of age; and 1-21 (2) attempt to obtain the following information and 1-22 any other information specified by the persons who designed the 1-23 survey: 1-24 (A) secondary school dropout rates; 2-1 (B) reasons for dropping out of school; 2-2 (C) number or percentage of dropouts attending a 2-3 course of instruction to prepare for the high school equivalency 2-4 examination; 2-5 (D) number or percentage of dropouts who have 2-6 completed a course of instruction to prepare for the high school 2-7 equivalency examination; 2-8 (E) current employment status of: 2-9 (i) dropouts; and 2-10 (ii) other persons who are at least 18 2-11 years of age but not older than 24 years of age who did not drop 2-12 out of secondary school; 2-13 (F) opinion of public school instruction held by 2-14 persons surveyed; and 2-15 (G) suggestions by persons surveyed for 2-16 improving public school education programs to prevent dropouts. 2-17 (c) The results of the survey shall: 2-18 (1) be compared with official Texas Education Agency 2-19 dropout data; 2-20 (2) indicate variations in results in various regions 2-21 of the state; 2-22 (3) be used by the agency in developing policies to 2-23 address the needs of students at risk of dropping out of school, as 2-24 defined by Section 29.081, Education Code, including, to the extent 2-25 necessary, policies to address the specific needs of students in 2-26 various regions of the state; and 2-27 (4) be compiled by the Office of Survey Research into 3-1 a report, together with information required under Subdivisions (1) 3-2 and (2) of this subsection and any recommendations arising from the 3-3 results, and submitted to the legislature not later than January 3-4 31, 2003. 3-5 (d) The Texas Education Agency shall cooperate with the 3-6 Office of Survey Research as necessary for the Office of Survey 3-7 Research to carry out its duties under this Act. 3-8 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 3-9 a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 3-10 provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this 3-11 Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 3-12 Act takes effect September 1, 2001.