By: Janek S.B. No. 1517
 
 
 
   
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to an exemption for students enrolled in certain advanced
courses from the requirement that a student be suspended from
participation in extracurricular activities for receiving an
unsatisfactory grade.
       BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
       SECTION 1.  Section 33.081, Education Code, is amended by
amending Subsections (c) and (d) and adding Subsection (d-1) to
read as follows:
       (c)  A student who is enrolled in a school district in this
state or who participates in a University Interscholastic League
competition shall be suspended from participation in any
extracurricular activity sponsored or sanctioned by the school
district or the University Interscholastic League after a grade
evaluation period in which the student received a grade lower than
the equivalent of 70 on a scale of 100 in any academic class other
than a course described by Subsection (d-1) [an identified honors
or advanced class]. A suspension continues for at least three
school weeks and is not removed during the school year until the
conditions of Subsection (d) are met. A suspension does not last
beyond the end of a school year. For purposes of this subsection,
"grade evaluation period" means:
             (1)  the six-week grade reporting period; or
             (2)  the first six weeks of a semester and each grade
reporting period thereafter, in the case of a district with a grade
reporting period longer than six weeks.
       (d)  Until the suspension is removed under this subsection or
the school year ends, a school district shall review the grades of a
student suspended under Subsection (c) at the end of each
three-week period following the date on which the suspension began.
At the time of a review, the suspension is removed if the student's
grade in each class, other than a course described by Subsection
(d-1) [an identified honors or advanced class], is equal to or
greater than the equivalent of 70 on a scale of 100. The principal
and each of the student's teachers shall make the determination
concerning the student's grades.
       (d-1)  Subsections (c) and (d) do not apply to an identified
honors, advanced placement, international baccalaureate, or dual
credit course in the subject area of English language arts,
mathematics, science, social studies, economics, or a language
other than English.  The agency shall review on a biennial basis
courses described by this subsection to determine if other courses
should be excluded from the requirement that a student be suspended
from participation in an extracurricular activity under Subsection
(c).  Not later than January 1 of each odd-numbered year, the agency
shall report the findings under this subsection to the legislature.
       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 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.