|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
relating to the classroom placement of multiple birth siblings in |
|
public schools. |
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 25, Education Code, is |
|
amended by adding Section 25.043 to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 25.043. CLASSROOM PLACEMENT OF MULTIPLE BIRTH |
|
SIBLINGS. (a) In this section: |
|
(1) "Multiple birth sibling" means a twin, triplet, |
|
quadruplet, or other sibling resulting from a multiple birth. |
|
(2) "Parent" includes a parent standing in parental |
|
relation. |
|
(b) The parent of multiple birth siblings who are assigned |
|
to the same grade level and school may request that the school place |
|
the siblings in the same classroom or in separate classrooms. |
|
(c) A parent who makes a classroom placement request under |
|
Subsection (b) must make the request: |
|
(1) not later than the 14th day after the first day of |
|
the school year; or |
|
(2) if the multiple birth siblings enroll in school |
|
after the first day of the school year, not later than the 14th day |
|
after the date of the siblings' enrollment. |
|
(d) A school shall provide the multiple birth siblings with |
|
the classroom placement requested by the parent unless the school |
|
district board of trustees determines under Subsection (e) that an |
|
alternative classroom placement is appropriate for the siblings. |
|
(e) At the end of the first grading period following the |
|
multiple birth siblings' enrollment in the school, if the principal |
|
of the school, in consultation with the teacher of each classroom in |
|
which the multiple birth siblings are placed, determines that the |
|
requested classroom placement is disruptive to the school, the |
|
principal may request that the school district board of trustees |
|
determine the appropriate classroom placement for the siblings. |
|
(f) The school may recommend to a parent the appropriate |
|
classroom placement for the multiple birth siblings and may provide |
|
professional educational advice to assist the parent with the |
|
decision regarding appropriate classroom placement. |
|
SECTION 2. Section 25.043, Education Code, as added by this |
|
Act, applies beginning with the 2007-2008 school year. |
|
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it 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, this |
|
Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |