80R5483 SLO-D
 
  By: Eissler H.B. No. 2237
 
 
 
   
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to high school success and college readiness in public
schools.
       BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
       SECTION 1.  Section 28.008, Education Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (d-1) to read as follows:
       (d-1) Beginning with the 2007-2008 school year, the State
Board of Education shall incorporate college readiness standards
and expectations into the essential knowledge and skills of the
foundation curriculum under Section 28.002(a)(1) for courses in
which 12th grade students generally enroll, as determined by board
rule. This subsection expires December 1, 2012.
       SECTION 2.  Subchapter F, Chapter 39, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 39.115 to read as follows:
       Sec. 39.115.  HIGH SCHOOL COMPLETION AND SUCCESS INITIATIVE.
(a) Using funds from private sources and state and federal funds
available for that purpose in an amount not more than the amount
provided by private sources, the commissioner may provide:
             (1)  grants to school districts to support the
establishment and implementation of sustainable and comprehensive
high school completion and success initiatives; and
             (2)  support, directly or through contract with a
private entity, for the restructuring and reform of high school
campuses considered academically unacceptable under Section 39.132
that are participating in an innovative redesign of the campus to
improve campus performance under Subchapter G.
       (b)  To receive a grant under this section, a school district
must develop an individualized graduation plan for each student
enrolled in a district high school. A student's individualized
graduation plan must:
             (1)  include information concerning the student's
performance on assessment instruments administered under
Subchapter B; and
             (2)  ensure that a student at risk of dropping out of
school, as defined by Section 29.081:
                   (A)  is afforded instruction from highly
qualified teachers;
                   (B)  has access to online diagnostic and
assessment instruments; and
                   (C)  is provided accelerated instruction in areas
of academic weakness identified in the individualized graduation
plan.
       (c)  A school district that receives a grant under this
section must use the grant funds to implement or administer
programs that demonstrate the greatest potential for improving high
school completion and success and successfully encouraging
students to pursue postsecondary education and training
opportunities, including:
             (1)  programs for high school students who have not
earned sufficient course credit to advance to the next grade level;
             (2)  after-school programs designed to promote high
school completion;
             (3)  literacy programs for high school students who
struggle with reading;
             (4)  ninth grade acceleration and enrichment programs;
             (5)  programs to improve the academic achievement of
high school students of limited English proficiency; and
             (6)  early college and middle college programs that
encourage a student who wishes to accelerate the student's
education or a student at risk of dropping out of school, as defined
by Section 29.081, to undertake courses of study that allow the
student to receive college credit in high school.
       (d)  A school district that receives a grant under this
section may use the grant funds to implement or administer:
             (1)  programs that allow a high school student to
attend school on a flexible schedule, such as a flexible year
program under Section 29.0821 or a flexible school day program
under Section 29.0822;
             (2)  programs that encourage personalized learning
environments;
             (3)  programs that encourage multiple methods for
pursuing postsecondary education and training opportunities,
including partnerships with institutions of higher education,
businesses, and community organizations; and
             (4)  sustainable innovative models for the
restructuring and reform of a district high school campus
considered academically unacceptable under Section 39.132 that is
participating in an innovative redesign of the campus to improve
campus performance under Subchapter G.
       (e)  A school district that receives a grant under this
section may contract with a private organization to assist the
district in implementing a program described by Subsection (c) or
(d).
       (f)  Using not more than five percent of the funding
available to the agency for purposes of this section, the
commissioner shall research and evaluate programs implemented by
school districts under Subsections (c) and (d). Not later than
December 1, 2008, the commissioner shall prepare and deliver a
report to the legislature describing:
             (1)  expenditures made by school districts using grant
funds provided under this section; and
             (2)  the results of the commissioner's research and
evaluation of programs implemented by school districts under
Subsections (c) and (d).
       SECTION 3.  This Act applies beginning with the 2007-2008
school year.
       SECTION 4.  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.