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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a study on effective methods for high school dropout |
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prevention. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 7, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 7.035 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 7.035. STUDY OF BEST PRACTICES FOR HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUT |
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PREVENTION. |
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(a) To the extent funding is available under Subsection (c), |
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the commissioner shall contract with one or more centers for |
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education research under Section 1.005 to: |
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(1) study the best practices of high school dropout |
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prevention efforts that provide coordinated programming in a high |
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school in conjunction with the elementary, middle, and junior high |
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schools whose students are assigned to transition to that high |
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school; and |
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(2) prepare a report regarding the findings of the |
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study. |
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(b) The study under Subsection (a) must include but is not |
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limited to an investigation of the feasibility of, and if feasible |
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the best practices for: |
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(1) using state matching grants of money raised |
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locally, including: |
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(A) using state money to maximize local |
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contributions; and |
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(B) creating a competitive process to distribute |
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state matching grants to school districts that have a high school |
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that has a high dropout rate; |
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(2) implementing early intervention strategies to |
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address high school dropout rates in elementary, middle, and junior |
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high schools whose students are assigned to transition to a high |
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school with a high dropout rate, including but not limited to the |
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use of: |
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(A) dropout prevention programs conducted by |
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schools and nonprofit entities; |
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(B) specialized personnel; and |
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(C) data collection and analysis to identify |
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students at risk of dropping out; |
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(3) identifying specific, local causes of dropping out |
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and developing strategies to address those causes; |
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(4) involving individuals and entities in dropout |
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prevention efforts, including: |
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(A) parents and guardians of students; |
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(B) nonprofit entities; |
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(C) businesses; and |
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(D) local governmental entities, including |
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municipalities, counties, and community colleges; and |
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(5) distributing funding and resources for use in high |
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school dropout prevention programs between a high school and the |
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elementary, middle, and junior high schools whose students are |
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assigned to transition to that high school to achieve the greatest |
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reduction in the dropout rate at that high school. |
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(c) The agency may solicit and accept a gift, grant, or |
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donation from any source, including a foundation, nonprofit entity, |
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private entity, governmental entity, institution of higher |
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education, or an individual for the implementation of the study. |
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The study may be implemented only if sufficient funds are available |
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under this subsection for that purpose. |
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(d) Not later than December 1, 2012, the commissioner shall |
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deliver the report produced under Subsection (a) to the governor, |
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the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of |
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representatives, and the presiding officers of the standing |
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committees of each house of the legislature with primary |
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jurisdiction over public education. |
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(e) This section expires January 1, 2013. |
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SECTION 2. 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, 2011. |