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.