SRC-TAG C.S.S.B. 976 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 976
By: Shapiro
Education
3/27/2003
Committee Report (Substituted)

DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

 According to the Texas Education Agency, 23,457 students dropped out of
public school in the 1999-2000 school year and other studies indicate the
actual number may be much higher. Students most likely to drop out of
school are those with poor attendance, those who must work, those who are
older than the majority of their classmates, and those who fall behind in
class credits in high school.  C.S.S.B. 976 establishes a Middle College
Education Pilot Program for students at-risk of dropping out; provides
at-risk students with services such as flexible scheduling and mentor
programs;  requires schools to review data related to dropout prevention
and incorporate the information in district and campus improvement plans;
and allow the commissioner of education to impose sanctions on districts
that have been rated as academically unacceptable due to high dropout
rates.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the commissioner of education
in SECTION 2 (Section 29.908(c), Education Code) of this bill.  

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Chapter 11F, Education Code, by adding Section 11.255,
as follows: 

Sec. 11.255.  DROPOUT PREVENTION REVIEW.  (a)  Requires each
district-level planning and decision-making committee and each
campus-level planning and decisionmaking committee for a junior, middle,
or high school campus to analyze information related to dropout
prevention, including certain factors.  

(b)  Requires each district-level and decision-making committee and each
campus-level planning and decision-making committee to use the information
reviewed under this section while developing district or campus
improvement plans under this subchapter. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Chapter 29Z, Education Code, by adding Section 29.908,
as follows: 

Sec.  29.908.  MIDDLE COLLEGE EDUCATION PILOT PROGRAM.  (a)  Requires the
commissioner of education (commissioner) to establish and administer a
middle college education pilot program for students who are at risk of
dropping out of school.  Provides that for the purposes of this section,
"student at risk of dropping out of school" has the meaning assigned by
Section 29.081. 

  (b)  Requires the program to meet certain requirements. 

(c)  Provides that in accordance with the rules adopted by the
commissioner, the student participating in the program is entitled to the
benefits of the Foundation School Program in proportion to the amount of
time spent by the student on high school courses.  Authorizes the
commissioner to accept gifts, grants, and donations to pay program costs
not covered by the student's Foundation School Program benefits. 

(d)  Requires the commissioner to consult the Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board (THECB) while establishing and administering the
program. 

SECTION 3.  Amends Section 39.131(a), Education Code, to require the
commissioner,  to the extent deemed necessary, to take certain actions
listed in order of severity, if a district fails to meet the accreditation
criteria, including imposing certain sanctions on a district which has
been rated as academically unacceptable for a period of two years or more
due to the district's dropout rates.   

SECTION 4.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2003.
            SECTIONS 1 and 3: upon passage and beginning with the
2004-2005 school year. 

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES 

SECTION 2.  Differs from the original bill in proposed Section 29.908 by
deleting the phrase 
 "or who wish to accelerate high school completion."

SECTION 3.  Differs from the original bill in proposed Section 39.131(a)
by changing the academically unacceptable period from "one year" to "two
years."  

SECTION 4.  Differs from original SECTION 4 by changing the date in which
this Act is applicable from "2003-2004 school year" to the  "2004-2005
school year."