|
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
relating to the time period for placement of a student in a |
|
disciplinary alternative education program. |
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
SECTION 1. Sections 37.009(a) and (d), Education Code, are |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(a) Not later than the third class day after the day on which |
|
a student is removed from class by the teacher under Section |
|
37.002(b) or (d) or by the school principal or other appropriate |
|
administrator under Section 37.001(a)(2) or 37.006, the principal |
|
or other appropriate administrator shall schedule a conference |
|
among the principal or other appropriate administrator, a parent or |
|
guardian of the student, the teacher removing the student from |
|
class, if any, and the student. At the conference, the student is |
|
entitled to written or oral notice of the reasons for the removal, |
|
an explanation of the basis for the removal, and an opportunity to |
|
respond to the reasons for the removal. The student may not be |
|
returned to the regular classroom pending the conference. |
|
Following the conference, and whether or not each requested person |
|
is in attendance after valid attempts to require the person's |
|
attendance, the principal shall order the placement of the student |
|
for a period consistent with the student code of conduct. If school |
|
district policy allows a student to appeal to the board of trustees |
|
or the board's designee a decision of the principal or other |
|
appropriate administrator, other than an expulsion under Section |
|
37.007, the decision of the board or the board's designee is final |
|
and may not be appealed. [If the period of the placement is
|
|
inconsistent with the guidelines included in the student code of
|
|
conduct under Section 37.001(a)(5), the order must give notice of
|
|
the inconsistency. The period of the placement may not exceed one
|
|
year unless, after a review, the district determines that:
|
|
[(1)
the student is a threat to the safety of other
|
|
students or to district employees; or
|
|
[(2)
extended placement is in the best interest of the
|
|
student.] |
|
(d) The board or the board's designee shall set a term for a |
|
student's placement in a disciplinary alternative education |
|
program. If the period of the placement is inconsistent with the |
|
guidelines included in the student code of conduct under Section |
|
37.001(a)(5), the order must give notice of the inconsistency and |
|
state the reason for the inconsistency. The period of the placement |
|
may not exceed one year unless, after a review, the district |
|
determines that[:
|
|
[(1)] the student is an imminent [a] threat to the |
|
safety of other students or to district employees[; or
|
|
[(2)
extended placement is in the best interest of the
|
|
student]. |
|
SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2009-2010 |
|
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, 2009. |