The bill would authorize a school district board of trustees to adopt a policy within the district’s student code of conduct to authorize a principal or other appropriate administrator to reduce the term of a disciplinary alternative education program (DAEP) placement. If such a policy is adopted, suspension of a student would also be authorized as an alternative to DAEP placement for certain violations. A school district board of trustees would also be authorized to adopt a policy within the district’s student code of conduct to authorize the board’s designee to reduce the term of an expulsion or to place a student in a DAEP as an alternative to expulsion for certain violations. The bill would specifically prohibit a board of trustees from adopting a policy under this provision that conflicts with the mandatory federal expulsion requirements for firearms violations.
There could be a minor cost to the Foundation School Program, depending upon the number of students that might not be expelled under local policies adopted to expand administrative discretion as authorized under this bill. If districts were to continue expelling students under administrative discretion policies as authorized by this bill, there would be little or no impact to the Foundation School Program. However, if districts were to significantly reduce the number or length of expulsions under the provisions of this bill, the costs to the Foundation School Program could approach $750,000. The changes proposed by this bill would not have any significant impact on the operating budget of the Texas Education Agency.
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated. There are potential fiscal implications for districts under this bill, however the net effect of such implications would depend upon local decision making and could vary widely from district to district.