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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the curriculum that must be provided by a disciplinary |
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alternative education program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Sections 37.008(a) and (l), Education Code, are |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) Each school district shall provide a disciplinary |
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alternative education program that: |
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(1) is provided in a setting other than a student's |
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regular classroom; |
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(2) is located on or off of a regular school campus; |
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(3) provides for the students who are assigned to the |
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disciplinary alternative education program to be separated from |
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students who are not assigned to the program; |
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(4) provides structured courses in [focuses on] |
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English language arts, mathematics, science, history, and |
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self-discipline that are equivalent in content and rigor to courses |
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in those subjects as provided in the regular classroom setting; |
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(5) provides for students' educational and behavioral |
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needs; |
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(6) provides supervision and counseling; |
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(7) employs only teachers who meet all certification |
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requirements established under Subchapter B, Chapter 21; [and] |
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(8) provides not less than the minimum amount of |
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instructional time per day required by Section 25.082(a); and |
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(9) provides an established curriculum for each grade |
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level that provides students an opportunity to achieve promotion to |
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the next grade level or to graduate from high school on the same |
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schedule as students in the regular classroom setting. |
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(l) A school district is required to provide in the |
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district's disciplinary alternative education program a course |
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necessary to fulfill a student's high school graduation |
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requirements [only as provided by this subsection]. A school |
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district shall offer a student removed to a disciplinary |
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alternative education program an opportunity to complete |
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coursework before the beginning of the next school year. The school |
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district may provide the student an opportunity to complete |
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coursework through any method available, including a |
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correspondence course, distance learning, or summer school. The |
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district may not charge the student for a course provided under this |
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subsection. |
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SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2011-2012 |
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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, 2011. |