BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 818

By: Howard, Donna

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Texas public schools have a considerable dropout problem, and teen pregnancy and parenthood serve as a leading cause of dropping out among female students. The compensatory education allotment is a special, weighted allotment in the Foundation School Program that supports students who are educationally disadvantaged, including pregnant students. These funds are currently required to cover costs supplementary to the regular education program, but child-care services are not included as a permissible use. H.B. 818 seeks to allow for the use of compensatory education allotment funding to provide assistance with child care to students at risk of dropping out of school.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 818 amends the Education Code to authorize compensatory education allotment funds to be used to provide child-care services or assistance with child-care expenses for students at risk of dropping out of school or to be used to pay the costs of day care or associated transportation provided through a life skills program for student parents in accordance with state law.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2011.