S.B. 16 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


S.B. 16
By: Staples
Public Education
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND 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

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department,
institution, or agency. 


ANALYSIS

S.B. 16 amends the Education Code, by authorizing each school district to
provide a mentoring services program to students at risk of dropping out
of school. The bill requires a district that provides a mentoring services
program using compensatory education funds to meet standards adopted by
the governor under the mentoring initiative established by the governor.
The bill 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. The bill 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.
The bill authorizes funds allocated under Section 42.152 to be used to
fund a district's mentoring services program under Section 29.089,
notwithstanding Section 42.152(c). 


EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2003.