78S30274 BDH-D

By:  Noriega                                                      H.B. No. 75 



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the dropout count and dropout rate of public school 
students.   
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 39, Education Code, is 
amended by adding Section 39.056 to read as follows:
	Sec. 39.056.  DROPOUT COUNT AND DROPOUT RATE; REPORT.  (a)  
In this section:
		(1)  "A" is the number of students enrolled at a campus 
at grade level 9;
		(2)  "B" is the number of students not enrolled at a 
campus at grade level 9 who subsequently enroll at the campus at the 
same grade level as the students described by Subdivision (1);
		(3)  "C" is the number of those students described by 
Subdivisions (1) and (2) who remain enrolled at the same campus at 
grade level 12;
		(4)  "D" is the number of those students described by 
Subdivisions (1) and (2):
			(A)  who enroll at another campus, including a 
private school campus, in a program that grants a high school 
diploma; and
			(B)  whose enrollment is verified by the receiving 
campus;          
		(5)  "E" is the number of students described by 
Subdivisions (1) and (2) who die while enrolled at the campus before 
receiving a high school diploma;
		(6)  "F" is the number of students described by 
Subdivisions (1) and (2) who receive a high school diploma before 
completing grade level 12;
		(7)  "DC" is the dropout count; and                                    
		(8)  "DR" is the dropout rate.                                         
	(b)  In addition to the computation of dropout rates under 
Section 39.051(b)(2), the agency shall compute the following 
dropout information for school campuses, school districts, and the 
state and make the information available to the public in an annual 
report:
		(1)  the dropout count of students at a school campus, 
as determined by the formula:

DC = (A + B) - (C + D + E + F); and
		(2)  the dropout rate of students at a school campus, as 
determined by the formula:

DR = (DC / (A + B)) x 100.
	(c)  The dropout count and dropout rate of students enrolled 
in a school district or in this state are computed under this 
section in the same manner as the dropout count and dropout rate of 
a campus under this section.
	(d)  The agency may not use for purposes of accountability or 
accreditation a dropout count or dropout rate computed under this 
section.
	SECTION 2.  This Act applies beginning with the 2004-2005 
school year.       
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this 
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 
Act takes effect on the 91st day after the last day of the 
legislative session.