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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the treatment of students receiving a high school |
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equivalency certificate in calculating dropout rates in public |
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schools. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 39.051(d), Education Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(d) Annually, the commissioner shall define exemplary, |
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recognized, and unacceptable performance for each academic |
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excellence indicator included under Subsections (b)(1) through (7) |
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and shall project the standards for each of those levels of |
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performance for succeeding years. For the indicator under |
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Subsection (b)(8), the commissioner shall define exemplary, |
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recognized, and unacceptable performance based on student |
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performance for the period covering both the current and preceding |
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academic years. In defining exemplary, recognized, and |
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unacceptable performance for the indicators under Subsections |
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(b)(2) and (4), the commissioner may not consider as a dropout or as |
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a student who has failed to attend school a student: |
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(1) who has obtained a high school equivalency |
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certificate (GED); or |
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(2) whose failure to attend school results from: |
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(A) [(1)] the student's expulsion under Section |
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37.007; and |
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(B) [(2)] as applicable: |
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(i) [(A)] adjudication as having engaged in |
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delinquent conduct or conduct indicating a need for supervision, as |
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defined by Section 51.03, Family Code; or |
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(ii) [(B)] conviction of and sentencing for |
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an offense under the Penal Code. |
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SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2009-2010 |
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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, 2009. |