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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a three-year high school diploma plan and cost-neutral |
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expansion of full-day prekindergarten programs. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 28, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 28.0255 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 28.0255. THREE-YEAR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA PLAN. (a) A |
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school district may develop and implement a program for students |
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who wish to obtain a high school diploma after completion of three |
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years of secondary school attendance as an alternative to the |
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traditional four-year period of attendance. |
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(b) Participation by a student in the program must be |
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voluntary, with approval of the student's parent. A student who |
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agrees to participate in the program may, on request, discontinue |
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participation and resume taking courses under the minimum, |
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recommended, or advanced high school program. |
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(c) Notwithstanding Section 28.025, the school district |
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shall specify the curriculum requirements for receiving a high |
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school diploma under the program. The curriculum requirements must |
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ensure that a student who graduates under the program possesses |
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sufficient knowledge and skills in English language arts and |
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mathematics to be capable of performing successfully in |
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postsecondary education courses. |
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(d) The school district shall submit the proposed |
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curriculum requirements to the State Board of Education for comment |
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and the commissioner for approval. The district may not implement |
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the program before obtaining the commissioner's approval of the |
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proposed curriculum requirements. |
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(e) A student is entitled to a high school diploma if the |
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student: |
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(1) successfully complies with the curriculum |
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requirements specified under Subsection (c); and |
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(2) performs satisfactorily, as determined by the |
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commissioner under Subsection (f), on end-of-course assessment |
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instruments listed under Section 39.023(c) for courses in which the |
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student was enrolled. |
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(f) For purposes of Subsection (e)(2), the commissioner |
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shall determine the level of satisfactory performance on applicable |
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end-of-course assessment instruments administered to a student. |
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(g) The school district shall report the academic |
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achievement record of students who have completed the program on a |
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transcript that clearly identifies the program and distinguishes |
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the program from the minimum, recommended, and advanced high school |
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programs. |
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(h) A student who has received a diploma under the program |
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is exempt from the compulsory school attendance requirements under |
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Section 25.085. |
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(i) To the extent this section conflicts with any other |
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provision of this code or rule adopted under this code, this section |
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prevails. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter E, Chapter 42, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 42.2526 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 42.2526. ADJUSTMENT FOR DISTRICT OPERATING THREE-YEAR |
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DIPLOMA PROGRAM. (a) This section applies only to a school |
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district operating a program authorized by Section 28.0255. |
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(b) Beginning with the first school year that follows the |
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first school year in which students receive high school diplomas |
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under the program authorized by Section 28.0255 and continuing for |
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every subsequent school year that the district operates the |
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program, the commissioner shall provide funding for the district's |
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prekindergarten program under Section 29.153 on a full-day basis |
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for a number of prekindergarten students equal to twice the number |
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of students who received a high school diploma under the program |
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authorized by Section 28.0255 during the preceding school year. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |