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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the provision of competitive grants to fund programs |
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for certain public school students assigned to disciplinary |
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alternative education programs or in-school suspension. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 37, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 37.0083 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 37.0083. GRANTS FOR INNOVATIVE DISCIPLINARY PROGRAMS |
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FOR AT-RISK STUDENTS. (a) In this section, "student at risk of |
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dropping out of school" has the meaning assigned by Section |
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29.081(d). |
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(b) If funds are available for that purpose, including |
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federal funds available under Title I of the Elementary and |
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Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. Section 6301 et seq.) or |
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other federal law and funds appropriated for adult education |
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programs under Section 29.253, the commissioner shall award grants |
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to school districts to conduct bullying prevention, youth violence |
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prevention, drug abuse prevention, or delinquency prevention |
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programs for students at risk of dropping out of school assigned to |
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a disciplinary alternative education program or an in-school |
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suspension setting. |
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(c) A school district shall use a grant awarded under this |
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section to develop or use a case management system for students at |
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risk of dropping out of school assigned to a disciplinary |
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alternative education program or an in-school suspension setting in |
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grades 6 through 12. A district may not reduce funding for an |
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existing program supporting students in disciplinary alternative |
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education programs or in-school suspension settings by use of funds |
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awarded under this section. |
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(d) A school district may contract with a private provider, |
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another public school, or a regional education service center for |
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services to implement a grant awarded under this section. As |
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required by the commissioner, a school district awarded a grant |
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under this section must agree to obtain technical assistance and |
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participate in training and evaluations. |
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(e) A school district awarded a grant under this section |
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shall implement programs that: |
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(1) target students who demonstrate abusive conduct |
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and behaviors, including assault, abuse, aggression, |
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insubordination, bullying, sexual harassment, intimidation of |
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others, destruction of school property, sale or possession of |
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dangerous drugs, and possession of weapons; |
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(2) provide services to students selected by campus |
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principals for behavioral intervention; |
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(3) utilize evidence-based bullying prevention, |
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violence prevention, drug abuse prevention, or delinquency |
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prevention programs, including group skills training, individual |
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behavioral counseling, and community service learning projects; |
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(4) use a case management system for a 12-month period |
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with each student to ensure a successful transition to the regular |
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education program; and |
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(5) work closely with a student's parent, guardian, or |
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other person standing in parental relation to the student or having |
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control of the student under a court order. |
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(f) The commissioner shall provide for a grant application, |
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review, and award process on a competitive basis and may use one or |
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more regional education service centers for that purpose and for |
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training and technical assistance. A regional education service |
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center participating in a grant proposal with a school district may |
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not participate in activities under this subsection. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |