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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the applicability of provisions of the Education Code |
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to certain alternative education programs. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 29.081(e), Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(e) A school district may use a private or public |
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community-based dropout recovery education program to provide |
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alternative education programs for students at risk of dropping out |
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of school. The programs must: |
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(1) provide not less than the minimum amount [four
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hours] of instructional time per day required under Section |
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25.082(a); |
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(2) employ as faculty and administrators persons with |
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baccalaureate or advanced degrees who meet all certification |
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requirements established under Subchapter B, Chapter 21; |
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(3) provide at least one instructor for each 28 |
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students; |
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(4) perform satisfactorily according to performance |
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indicators and accountability standards adopted for alternative |
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education programs by the commissioner; and |
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(5) comply with this title and rules adopted under |
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this title except as otherwise provided by this subsection. |
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SECTION 2. Sections 37.008(b) and (c), Education Code, are |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(b) A disciplinary alternative education program may |
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provide for a student's transfer to: |
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(1) a different campus; |
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(2) a school-community guidance center under |
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Subchapter B; or |
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(3) a community-based alternative school, including a |
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community-based dropout recovery education program under Section |
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29.081(e). |
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(c) An off-campus disciplinary alternative education |
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program, including a school-community guidance center, a |
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community-based alternative school, or a community-based dropout |
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recovery education program, is not subject to a requirement imposed |
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by this title, other than: |
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(1) a limitation on liability; |
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(2) [,] a reporting requirement; |
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(3) [, or] a requirement imposed by this chapter or by |
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Chapter 39; or |
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(4) any other requirement imposed by this title that |
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applies to an on-campus disciplinary alternative education |
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program. |
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SECTION 3. Sections 29.081(e) and 37.008(b) and (c), |
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Education Code, as amended by this Act, apply beginning with the |
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2009-2010 school year. |
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SECTION 4. 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. |