SRC-JEC, MSY S.B. 16 78(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterS.B. 16 By: Staples Education 6/16/2003 Enrolled DIGEST AND PURPOSE Current law requires school districts to spend compensatory education funds on instructional services for at-risk students in order to address disparities in assessment performance and high school completion rates between at-risk students and their peers. S.B. 16 allows a school district to use compensatory education funds for mentoring programs that aim to further the goal of assisting at-risk youth. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the commissioner of education in SECTION 1 (Section 29.089, Education Code) of this bill. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter C, Chapter 29, Education Code, by adding Section 29.089, as follows: Sec. 29.089. MENTORING SERVICES PROGRAM. (a) Authorizes each school district to provide a mentoring services program to students at risk of dropping out of school, as defined by Section 29.081. (b) Requires the commissioner of education, in consultation with the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of representatives, by rule to determine accountability standards under this section for a school district providing a mentoring services program using funds allocated under Section 42.152. (c) Requires the board of trustees of the district to obtain the consent of a student's parent or guardian before allowing the student to participate in the program. (d) Authorizes the board of trustees of the district to arrange for any public or private community-based organization to come to the district's schools and implement the program. SECTION 2. Amends Section 42.152, Education Code, by adding Subsection (c-1) to authorize funds allocated under Section 42.152 to be used to fund a district's mentoring services program under Section 29.089, notwithstanding Subsection (c). SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2003.