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78R8090 BDH-D
By: Shapiro S.B. No. 976
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to high school completion and the creation of a middle
college education pilot program.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter F, Chapter 11, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 11.255 to read as follows:
Sec. 11.255. DROPOUT PREVENTION REVIEW. (a) Each
district–level planning and decision-making committee and each
campus–level planning and decision–making committee for a junior,
middle, or high school campus shall analyze information related to
dropout prevention, including:
(1) the results of the audit of dropout records
required by Section 39.055;
(2) campus information related to graduation rates,
dropout rates, high school equivalency certificate rates, and the
percentage of students who remain in high school more than four
years after entering grade level 9;
(3) the number of students who enter a high school
equivalency certificate program and:
(A) do not complete the program;
(B) complete the program but do not take the high
school equivalency examination; or
(C) complete the program and take the high school
equivalency examination, but do not obtain a high school
equivalency certificate;
(4) for students enrolled in grade levels 9 and 10,
information related to academic credit hours earned, retention
rates, and placements in alternative education programs and
expulsions under Chapter 37; and
(5) the results of an evaluation of each school–based
dropout prevention program in the district.
(b) Each district-level planning and decision–making
committee and each campus–level planning and decision–making
committee shall use the information reviewed under this section in
developing district or campus improvement plans under this
subchapter.
SECTION 2. Subchapter Z, Chapter 29, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 29.908 to read as follows:
Sec. 29.908. MIDDLE COLLEGE EDUCATION PILOT PROGRAM. (a)
The commissioner shall establish and administer a middle college
education pilot program for students who are at risk of dropping out
of school or who wish to accelerate high school completion. For
purposes of this section, "student at risk of dropping out of
school" has the meaning assigned by Section 29.081.
(b) The program must:
(1) provide for a course of study that enables a
participating student to combine high school courses and
college-level courses during grade levels 11 and 12;
(2) allow a participating student to complete high
school and receive at least a high school diploma and associate
degree at the time of graduation;
(3) include articulation agreements under Subchapter
T, Chapter 61, with colleges, universities, and technical schools
in this state to provide a participating student access to
postsecondary educational and training opportunities; and
(4) provide a participating student flexibility in
class scheduling and academic mentoring.
(c) A 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, in
accordance with rules adopted by the commissioner. The
commissioner may accept gifts, grants, and donations from any
source, including private and nonprofit organizations, to pay any
costs of the program not covered by the student's Foundation School
Program benefits.
(d) The commissioner shall consult the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board in establishing and administering the
program.
SECTION 3. Section 39.131(a), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a) If a district does not satisfy the accreditation
criteria, the commissioner shall take any of the following actions,
listed in order of severity, to the extent the commissioner
determines necessary:
(1) issue public notice of the deficiency to the board
of trustees;
(2) order a hearing conducted by the board of trustees
of the district for the purpose of notifying the public of the
unacceptable performance, the improvements in performance expected
by the agency, and the sanctions that may be imposed under this
section if the performance does not improve;
(3) order the preparation of a student achievement
improvement plan that addresses each academic excellence indicator
for which the district's performance is unacceptable, the
submission of the plan to the commissioner for approval, and
implementation of the plan;
(4) order a hearing to be held before the commissioner
or the commissioner's designee at which the president of the board
of trustees of the district and the superintendent shall appear and
explain the district's low performance, lack of improvement, and
plans for improvement;
(5) arrange an on-site investigation of the district;
(6) appoint an agency monitor to participate in and
report to the agency on the activities of the board of trustees or
the superintendent;
(7) appoint a master to oversee the operations of the
district;
(8) appoint a management team to direct the operations
of the district in areas of unacceptable performance or require the
district to obtain certain services under a contract with another
person;
(9) if a district has been rated as academically
unacceptable for a period of one year or more, appoint a board of
managers to exercise the powers and duties of the board of trustees;
[or]
(10) if a district has been rated as academically
unacceptable for a period of two years or more:
(A) annex the district to one or more adjoining
districts under Section 13.054; or
(B) in the case of a home-rule school district or
open-enrollment charter school, order closure of all programs
operated under the district's or school's charter; or
(11) if a district has been rated as academically
unacceptable for a period of one year or more due to the district's
dropout rates, impose sanctions designed to improve high school
completion rates, including:
(A) ordering the development of a dropout
prevention plan for approval by the commissioner;
(B) restructuring the district or appropriate
school campuses to improve identification of and service to
students who are at risk of dropping out of school, as defined by
Section 29.081;
(C) ordering lower student-to-counselor ratios
on school campuses with high dropout rates; and
(D) ordering the use of any other intervention
strategy effective in reducing dropout rates, including mentor
programs and flexible class scheduling.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2003, except
that Sections 1 and 3 of this Act take effect immediately and apply
beginning with the 2003-2004 school year if this Act receives a vote
of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided
by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does
not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, Sections 1 and
3 of this Act take effect September 1, 2003.