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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to school district programs to reduce truancy and dropout |
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rates. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 29, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 29.0891 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 29.0891. TRUANCY AND DROPOUT PREVENTION PROGRAMS. (a) |
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The commissioner shall by rule establish procedures for awarding |
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grants to school districts to be used in operating locally |
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developed programs designed to reduce truancy and dropout rates at |
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campuses considered academically unacceptable under Section |
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39.132. |
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(b) In order to be eligible to receive a grant under this |
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section, a school district's program must include the following |
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components: |
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(1) specific, measurable performance indicators |
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through which a school district may demonstrate the effectiveness |
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of the program in reducing truancy and dropout rates at campuses |
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considered academically unacceptable under Section 39.132, |
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including at least the following indicators: |
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(A) reductions in the number of in-school |
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suspensions; |
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(B) reductions in the number of students who are |
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placed in a disciplinary alternative education program; and |
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(C) increases in student grade point averages; |
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(2) databases that are capable of reporting |
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information relating to truancy and dropout rates in a real-time |
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format; |
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(3) the establishment of a mechanism through which a |
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student assigned to a campus considered academically unacceptable |
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under Section 39.132 may anonymously contact a teacher, counselor, |
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or other school district employee for immediate counseling |
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regarding issues and problems that could result in truancy or |
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dropping out of school; and |
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(4) the preparation of at least one relational study |
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that evaluates the relationship between the measures implemented |
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through the program and truancy and dropout rates in the district. |
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(c) The mechanism required by Subsection (b)(3) may be |
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implemented through the Internet, a telephone hotline, or other |
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appropriate method of delivery. |
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(d) The commissioner shall fund the grants required by this |
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section by withholding an amount determined by the commissioner |
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from the total amount of funds appropriated for allotments under |
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Section 42.152. After withholding the determined amount, the |
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commissioner shall reduce each school district's tier one |
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allotments in the same manner described for a reduction in |
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allotments under Section 42.253 and shall allocate funds to each |
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district accordingly. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |