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.