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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to establishment of a pilot program to provide financial |
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incentives to students in academically unacceptable public school |
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campuses. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter F, Chapter 39, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 39.117 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 39.117. PILOT PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS ENROLLED IN |
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ACADEMICALLY UNACCEPTABLE CAMPUSES. (a) The commissioner shall |
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establish a pilot program under which ninth grade students in |
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selected campuses are provided financial incentives for |
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performance in certain academic classes. |
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(b) A campus is eligible to participate in the pilot program |
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if the campus: |
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(1) has been designated as academically unacceptable |
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under Section 39.072; and |
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(2) applies to the commissioner to participate in the |
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pilot program. |
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(c) The commissioner shall select campuses for |
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participation in the pilot program using a lottery system or |
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similar random selection process. |
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(d) At the end of each grading period, each student enrolled |
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at the ninth grade level at a selected campus is entitled to an |
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award based on the student's performance in each class in a subject |
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included in the foundation curriculum under Section 28.002(a)(1). |
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The amount of the student's award is determined as follows: |
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(1) $50 for each grade of "A"; |
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(2) $35 for each grade of "B"; |
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(3) $20 for each grade of "C"; and |
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(4) $0 for each grade of "D" or "F". |
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(e) A student whose performance qualifies for an award under |
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Subsection (d) shall receive a payment equal to half the amount of |
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the award on completion of the grading period. The remaining half |
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of the award shall be provided to the student in the form of savings |
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bonds on the student's graduation from high school. |
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(f) A student may earn an award during the ninth grade only. |
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(g) A school district must provide a student participating |
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in the pilot program with college and career counseling and |
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encouragement to prepare for college entrance exams. |
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(h) Each campus selected to participate in the pilot program |
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shall designate an employee to serve as project coordinator for the |
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campus. |
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(i) The commissioner may adopt rules as necessary for the |
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administration of the pilot program. |
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SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with students who |
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enter the ninth grade in the 2010-2011 school year. |
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SECTION 3. 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. |