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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to development of a strategy for increasing the number of |
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guidance counselors employed by public high schools. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. STRATEGY FOR INCREASING THE NUMBER OF HIGH |
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SCHOOL GUIDANCE COUNSELORS. (a) The Texas Education Agency shall |
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develop a strategy for increasing the number of certified guidance |
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counselors employed in public high schools so that each public high |
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school employs at least one certified guidance counselor for every |
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250 students. |
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(b) In developing the strategy, the agency shall: |
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(1) determine the current ratio in public high schools |
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of certified guidance counselors to students; |
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(2) estimate the number of additional certified |
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guidance counselors required to be employed to reach the goal |
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specified in Subsection (a) of this section; |
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(3) identify the steps necessary to be taken to reach |
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the goal specified in Subsection (a) of this section; and |
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(4) determine the date by which the goal specified in |
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Subsection (a) of this section could reasonably be achieved. |
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SECTION 2. REPORT. Not later than December 1, 2010, the |
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Texas Education Agency shall submit a report to the legislature |
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regarding the strategy developed under Section 1 of this Act. The |
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report must contain: |
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(1) information regarding the costs of implementing |
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the strategy; |
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(2) recommendations regarding alternative options for |
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paying the costs identified in Subdivision (1) of this section; and |
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(3) recommendations regarding a timeline for gradual |
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implementation of the strategy. |
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SECTION 3. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect |
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immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members |
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elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas |
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Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for |
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immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |