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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to establishment of an after-school grant program for |
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certain students in public middle or junior high schools. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 29, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 29.091 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 29.091. MIDDLE AND JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL GRANT PROGRAM |
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FOR AFTER-SCHOOL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES. (a) From funds |
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appropriated for that purpose, the commissioner shall establish a |
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program under which grants are awarded to school districts to |
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implement after-school learning opportunities for students in |
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middle and junior high schools who are at risk of dropping out of |
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school, as described by Section 29.081(d). |
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(b) Activities funded with a grant under this section must |
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be designed to: |
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(1) promote the ability of students to succeed in |
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middle or junior high school; |
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(2) prepare students for the transition to high school |
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so that the students enter high school with the ability to succeed, |
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graduate, and successfully pursue postsecondary options; |
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(3) provide students with the opportunity to |
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investigate diverse career options; and |
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(4) provide students and their parents with |
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information regarding opportunities for higher education. |
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(c) The commissioner shall establish application criteria |
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for receiving a grant under this section. The criteria must |
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require a school district that applies for a grant to collaborate |
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with local businesses and nonprofit organizations in providing |
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activities designed to achieve the goals described by Subsection |
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(b). |
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(d) The commissioner may: |
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(1) accept gifts, grants, or donations from a private |
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foundation to implement a grant program under this section; and |
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(2) coordinate gifts, grants, or donations with other |
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available funding to implement a grant program under this section. |
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(e) The commissioner shall establish procedures for |
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evaluating the effectiveness of activities funded with a grant |
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awarded under this section. The procedures must include |
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consideration of: |
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(1) school attendance rates; |
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(2) student performance in academic subjects; and |
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(3) subsequent high school completion rates. |
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(f) The commissioner shall adopt rules necessary to |
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administer the grant program under this section. |
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SECTION 2. 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. |