|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to the provision of a competitive grant program at the |
|
|
Texas Education Agency funding disciplinary programs for at-risk |
|
|
youth. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Section 37.0082, Education Code, is enacted to |
|
|
read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 37.0082. Funding for Innovative Disciplinary At-Risk |
|
|
Youth Program Grants. |
|
|
(a) From funds appropriated for that purpose, the agency |
|
|
shall award grants for funding to conduct youth violence |
|
|
prevention, drug abuse prevention, or delinquency prevention |
|
|
programs for at-risk youth in in-school suspension or disciplinary |
|
|
alternative education program settings. |
|
|
(b) A grant under this section shall be used to develop a |
|
|
case management system for at-risk youth assigned to disciplinary |
|
|
alternative education programs or in-school suspension settings in |
|
|
grades six through twelve. A district may not reduce funding for |
|
|
existing programs supporting students in disciplinary alternative |
|
|
education programs or in-school suspension settings by use of funds |
|
|
awarded under this section. |
|
|
(c) A school district may contract with a private provider, |
|
|
another public school, or a regional education service center for |
|
|
services to implement a grant under this section. A school district |
|
|
must agree to participate in trainings, technical assistance and |
|
|
evaluations, as required by the agency. |
|
|
(d) School districts awarded a grant under this section will |
|
|
implement programs that: |
|
|
(1) target students who demonstrate abusive conduct |
|
|
and behaviors including assault, abuse, aggression, |
|
|
insubordination, bullying, sexual harassment, intimidation of |
|
|
others, destruction of school property, sale or possession of |
|
|
dangerous drugs, and/or possession of weapons; |
|
|
(2) provide services to students selected by campus |
|
|
principals for behavioral intervention; |
|
|
(3) utilize documented violence prevention, drug |
|
|
abuse prevention or delinquency prevention programs, including |
|
|
group skills training, individual behavioral counseling, and |
|
|
community service learning projects; |
|
|
(4) use a case management system for a 12 month period |
|
|
of time with each student to assure a successful transition to the |
|
|
regular education program; and |
|
|
(5) work closely with the student's parents, guardian |
|
|
or other person or agency standing in parental relation to the |
|
|
student or having control of the student under a court order. |
|
|
(e) The agency shall provide for a grant application, review |
|
|
and award process on a competitive basis and may use one or more |
|
|
education service center for that purpose and for training and |
|
|
technical assistance. An education service center participating in |
|
|
a grant proposal with a school district may not participate in |
|
|
activities under this subsection. |
|
|
SECTION 2. 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 members elected to each house, as |
|
|
provided by Section 39, Article 111, Texas Constitution. If this |
|
|
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
|
|
Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |