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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to establishing a pilot program for certain students at |
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risk of dropping out of school. |
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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 29.0961 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 29.0961. DROPOUT PREVENTION PILOT PROGRAM. (a) The |
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commissioner by rule shall establish a pilot program under which |
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participating school districts implement a dropout prevention |
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program for students in grade six. |
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(b) A school district may apply to the commissioner to |
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participate in the pilot program. Subject to receipt of acceptable |
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applications, the commissioner shall select school districts for |
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participation in the pilot program. An application by a school |
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district must describe the manner in which the pilot program will be |
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implemented in the school district, including specific, measurable |
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performance indicators through which the school district will |
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demonstrate the effectiveness of the program in reducing dropout |
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rates. |
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(c) A school district participating in the pilot program |
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shall implement intervention models that include best practices |
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for preventing students from dropping out of school as determined |
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by the agency and by the best practices clearinghouse under Section |
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7.009. A district must provide students participating in the |
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program with academic mentoring. |
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(d) A school district participating in the pilot program |
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shall provide an annual progress report to the agency not later than |
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August 1 of each year the district is participating in the pilot |
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program. The report must state in detail the type of intervention |
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model used in the district and the effect of the pilot program on |
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the district, including: |
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(1) any effect on the academic progress of students |
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who are participating in a pilot program, as measured by |
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performance on assessment instruments, including assessment |
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instruments administered under Section 39.023; |
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(2) a comparison of student progress at a campus or in |
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a classroom in the school district that is participating in the |
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pilot program as compared to student progress at a campus or in a |
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classroom in a district that is not participating in the pilot |
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program; |
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(3) any effect on student attendance or dropout rates; |
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and |
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(4) any effect on student enrollment in high school. |
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(e) A pilot program shall continue to monitor the |
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educational career and success of a student enrolled in the pilot |
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program for six years from the date the student enrolls in the |
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program. If a student enrolled in the pilot program transfers to |
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another school district in this state, the district to which the |
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student transfers shall provide the district participating in the |
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pilot program information to enable the district to monitor the |
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student's progress. A pilot program must include research and the |
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district must conduct a relational study that evaluates the |
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relationship between the measures implemented through the pilot |
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program and dropout rates in the district. |
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(f) The agency shall provide technical assistance to a |
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school district participating in the pilot program, including |
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assisting the district in researching the effectiveness of the |
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program. |
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(g) The commissioner shall adopt rules necessary to |
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implement this section. |
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SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2009-2010 |
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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. |