H.B. 774 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 774 By: Dutton Public Education Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND Under current law, school districts are required to provide students with an alternative education program. This program includes student focus on English, math, science, history, and self-discipline, and also provides for educational and behavioral needs of a student placed in such a program. The programs offered are generally unaccredited courses to assist in behavioral management or fillers for the student's schedule. Current law, however, does not require the program to provide a high school student in an alternative education program with accredited courses necessary to graduate. PURPOSE House Bill 774 requires that the courses provided by the alternative education program for a high school student include accredited courses needed to fulfill high school graduation requirements. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion this that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS House Bill 774 amends the Education Code by requiring that each school district provide an alternative education program that provides for students' educational and behavioral needs, including a course necessary for a high school student to fulfill the student's high school graduation requirements in a timely manner. The bill repeals Section 37.008(l) which stipulates that a school district is not required to provide a course necessary to fulfill a student's high school graduation requirements in the alternative education program. This Act applies beginning with the 2003-2004 school year. EFFECTIVE DATE Upon passage, or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2003.