By: Hinojosa, et al. S.B. No. 975
 
  (Munoz, Jr., Patrick)
 
   
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the operation of dropout recovery programs by certain
  public junior colleges in partnership with school districts.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 29, Education Code, is amended by adding
  Subchapter K to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER K. PUBLIC JUNIOR COLLEGE AND SCHOOL DISTRICT
  PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM TO PROVIDE DROPOUT RECOVERY
         Sec. 29.401.  APPLICABILITY. (a)  This subchapter applies
  only to a public junior college, as defined by Section 61.003,
  located in a county:
               (1)  with a population of 750,000 or more; and
               (2)  with less than 65 percent of the population 25
  years and older having graduated from high school, according to the
  most recent American Community Survey five-year estimates compiled
  by the United States Census Bureau.
         (b)  The application of this subchapter to a public junior
  college is not affected if, after the public junior college enters
  into a partnership and begins providing a dropout recovery program
  as provided by this subchapter, the county's demographics under
  Subsection (a)(2) change and the county no longer meets the
  requirements under Subsection (a)(2).
         (c)  This subchapter applies only to a school district with a
  dropout rate that is higher than 15 percent. The application of
  this subchapter to a district is not affected if, after the district
  enters into a partnership as provided by this subchapter, the
  district's dropout rate changes and the district no longer meets
  the requirements under this subsection.
         (d)  This section expires September 1, 2013.
         Sec. 29.402.  PARTNERSHIP. (a)  Beginning September 1,
  2012, a public junior college may enter into an articulation
  agreement to partner with one or more school districts located in
  the public junior college district to provide on the campus of the
  public junior college a dropout recovery program for students
  described by Subsection (b) to successfully complete and receive a
  diploma from a high school of the appropriate partnering school
  district.
         (b)  A person who is under 26 years of age is eligible to
  enroll in a dropout recovery program under this subchapter if the
  person:
               (1)  must complete not more than three course credits
  to complete the curriculum requirements for the minimum,
  recommended, or advanced high school program, as appropriate, for
  high school graduation; or
               (2)  has failed to perform satisfactorily on an
  end-of-course assessment instrument administered under Section
  39.023(c) or an assessment instrument administered under Section
  39.023(c) as that section existed before amendment by Chapter 1312
  (S.B. 1031), Acts of the 80th Legislature, Regular Session, 2007.
         (c)  A public junior college under this section shall:
               (1)  design a dropout recovery curriculum that includes
  career and technology education courses that lead to industry or
  career certification;
               (2)  integrate into the dropout recovery curriculum
  research-based strategies to assist students in becoming able
  academically to pursue postsecondary education, including:
                     (A)  high quality, college readiness instruction
  with strong academic and social supports;
                     (B)  secondary to postsecondary bridging that
  builds college readiness skills, provides a plan for college
  completion, and ensures transition counseling; and
                     (C)  information concerning appropriate supports
  available in the first year of postsecondary enrollment to ensure
  postsecondary persistence and success, to the extent funds are
  available for the purpose;
               (3)  offer advanced academic and transition
  opportunities, including dual credit courses and college
  preparatory courses, such as advanced placement courses; and
               (4)  coordinate with each partnering school district to
  provide in the articulation agreement that the district retains
  accountability for student attendance, student completion of high
  school course requirements, and student performance on assessment
  instruments as necessary for the student to receive a diploma from a
  high school of the partnering school district.
         (d)  A dropout recovery program provided under this
  subchapter must comply with the requirements of Sections 29.081(e)
  and (f).
         Sec. 29.403.  FINANCING. (a)  A public junior college
  district may receive from each partnering school district for each
  student from that district enrolled in a dropout recovery program
  under this subchapter an amount negotiated between the junior
  college district and that partnering district not to exceed the
  total average per student funding amount in that district during
  the preceding school year for maintenance and operations, including
  state and local funding, but excluding money from the available
  school fund.
         (b)  A student who is enrolled in a program under this
  subchapter is included in determining the average daily attendance
  under Section 42.005 of the partnering school district.
         Sec. 29.404.  OTHER FUNDING. (a)  To the extent consistent
  with the General Appropriations Act, a public junior college under
  this subchapter is eligible to receive dropout prevention and
  intervention program funds appropriated to the agency.
         (b)  A public junior college under this subchapter may
  receive gifts, grants, and donations to use for the purposes of this
  subchapter.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2011.