82R3971 PAM-D
 
  By: Hinojosa S.B. No. 975
 
 
 
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).
         Sec. 29.402.  PARTNERSHIP. (a) A public junior college may
  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).
         (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 in collaboration with one
  or more school districts located in the public junior college
  district; and
               (2)  offer advanced academic and transition
  opportunities, including dual credit courses and college
  preparatory courses, such as advanced placement courses.
         Sec. 29.403.  FINANCING. (a) A public junior college
  district may receive for each student enrolled in a dropout
  recovery program under this subchapter an amount equal to the total
  average per student funding amount in the school district the
  student would otherwise attend school 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 school district in which the student
  would otherwise attend school.
         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.