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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to an educational involvement agreement setting forth the |
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respective responsibilities of students, parents, teachers, and |
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principals in public schools. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 26, Education Code, is amended by adding |
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Section 26.014 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 26.014. EDUCATIONAL INVOLVEMENT AGREEMENT. (a) The |
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agency shall adopt an educational involvement agreement form for |
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use by school districts to be signed by a student, the student's |
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parent, each of the student's teachers, and the principal of the |
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student's school. The agreement must state the respective |
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responsibilities of the student, parent, teacher, and principal. A |
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school district shall provide the agreement to each individual who |
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is required to sign the agreement not later than the 14th day after |
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the first day of instruction for a school year or the 14th day after |
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the date a student enrolls in the school, as applicable. A school |
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district must provide a parent with a reasonable opportunity to |
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sign the agreement. |
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(b) The educational involvement agreement must include |
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descriptions of: |
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(1) the parent's responsibilities regarding the |
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student's education, which may include: |
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(A) reading to the student, if appropriate for |
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the student's grade or reading level; |
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(B) reviewing and checking the student's |
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homework; and |
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(C) contributing at least five hours of the |
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parent's time to the school each school year by: |
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(i) attending school-related activities; |
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(ii) attending parent-teacher association |
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meetings; |
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(iii) attending parent-teacher |
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conferences; |
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(iv) volunteering at the school; or |
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(v) chaperoning school-sponsored events; |
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(2) the responsibility of a student to: |
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(A) read each day before or after school, if |
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appropriate for the student's grade or reading level; |
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(B) use school equipment and property in a safe, |
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appropriate manner; |
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(C) follow the instructions of school staff; |
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(D) complete and submit homework in a timely |
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manner; and |
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(E) act in a respectful manner; and |
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(3) the responsibility of each teacher and principal |
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to: |
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(A) provide each student with proper |
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instruction, supervision, and interaction; |
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(B) maximize the educational and social |
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experience of each student; |
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(C) perform professional responsibilities in a |
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manner that is in the best interest of each student; and |
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(D) be available to parents to discuss concerns. |
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(c) A school district may revise the educational |
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involvement agreement form adopted by the agency to include |
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information in addition to the information required under this |
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section. |
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(d) The educational involvement agreement provided to a |
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student's parent must be accompanied by information regarding: |
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(1) the manner in which a parent may contact the |
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student's teacher or principal; |
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(2) the curriculum for each course in which the |
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student is enrolled or standards for the student's grade level, |
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including a calendar that indicates the dates that assessment |
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instruments will be administered under Subchapter B, Chapter 39, |
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and the due dates of significant projects, if those dates are known |
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at the time the information is provided to the parent; |
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(3) homework and grading policies; |
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(4) directions for locating resource material for the |
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courses in which the student is enrolled or for the student's grade |
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level, as applicable; |
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(5) methods for assisting the student with school work |
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at home; |
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(6) dates of scheduled conferences between teachers or |
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administrators and the parent; |
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(7) details on how reports of the student's progress |
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will be sent to the parent and how a parent may request a progress |
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report; |
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(8) classroom rules and policies; |
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(9) dress code; |
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(10) the availability of assistance to a parent of |
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limited English proficiency; |
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(11) information on free and reduced-price meals; and |
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(12) opportunities for parents to become involved in |
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the student's education or volunteer at the school. |
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(e) The commissioner may adopt rules as necessary to |
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implement this section. |
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SECTION 2. (a) As soon as practicable after the effective |
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date of this Act, the Texas Education Agency shall adopt an |
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educational involvement agreement form for use by school districts |
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as required by Section 26.014, Education Code, as added by this Act. |
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(b) Each school district shall use the educational |
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involvement agreement form in the manner required by Section |
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26.014, Education Code, as added by this Act, beginning with the |
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2008-2009 school year. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |