SRC-AMY S.B. 632 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 632 78R5012 BDH-DBy: Barrientos Education 3/31/2003 As Filed DIGEST AND PURPOSE Texas needs more accurate information regarding school dropouts to better be able to to counter this growing and expensive problem. As proposed, S.B. 632 requires the Office of Survey Research of the College of Communication of The University of Texas to complete a statewide poll every other year of parents of junior high and high school students and young people between 18 and 24 not attending school. This bill requires the poll to include, but does not limit it to, questions that would determine high school dropout rates, reasons for dropping out, high school completion rates, General Educational Development program participation and completion rates, employment status, and student recommendations for restructuring the delivery of public school education programs to encourage students to complete high school. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 29C, Education Code, by adding Section 29.088, as follows: Sec. 29.088. SURVEY REGARDING DROPOUTS. (a) Requires the Office of Survey Research of the College of Communication of The University of Texas to complete a statewide scientific survey, not later than December 1, 2004, to gather information on students who leave public schools in this state without obtaining a high school diploma. (b) Requires the survey to poll parents and guardians of middle, junior high, and high school students and individuals at least 18 but younger than 24 years of age not enrolled in public school. (c) Requires the survey to be designed to obtain information related to high school dropout and completion rates, causes of increased dropout rates, rates of student participation in and completion of high school equivalency programs, recommendations to increase high school completion rates, and certain other related information. (d) Requires the Office of Survey Research to make a written report of the survey results available to the public. (e) Provides that this section expires December 1, 2004. SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2003.