83R5301 KKA-D
 
  By: West S.B. No. 681
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to a pilot program for a three-year high school diploma
  plan and cost-neutral expansion of full-day prekindergarten
  programs.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 28, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 28.0255 to read as follows:
         Sec. 28.0255.  PILOT PROGRAM: THREE-YEAR HIGH SCHOOL
  DIPLOMA PLAN. (a) In this section, "certificate program," "public
  junior college," "public state college," and "public technical
  institute" have the meanings assigned by Section 61.003.
         (b)  This section applies only to a school district:
               (1)  with an enrollment of more than 150,000 students;
  and
               (2)  located primarily in a county that has a
  population of 2.2 million or more and that is adjacent to a county
  with a population of more than 600,000.
         (c)  A school district to which this section applies may
  develop and implement a pilot program for students who wish to
  obtain a high school diploma after completion of three years of
  secondary school attendance as an alternative to the traditional
  four-year period of attendance. The program must:
               (1)  be designed to serve the educational needs of
  students who do not anticipate immediate enrollment in a four-year
  college or university after graduation from high school; and
               (2)  include partnerships between the school district
  and public junior colleges, public technical institutes, public
  state colleges, and any other public postsecondary institutions in
  this state offering academic or technical education or vocational
  training under a certificate program or an associate degree program
  to facilitate the prompt enrollment of students in those
  institutions after high school graduation under the program.
         (d)  Participation by a student in the program must be
  voluntary, with approval of the student's parent. A student who
  agrees to participate in the program may, on request, discontinue
  participation and resume taking courses under the minimum,
  recommended, or advanced high school program.
         (e)  Notwithstanding Section 28.025, the school district
  shall specify the curriculum requirements for receiving a high
  school diploma under the program. The curriculum requirements must
  ensure that a student who graduates under the program possesses
  sufficient knowledge and skills in English language arts and
  mathematics to be capable of performing successfully in public
  junior college-level courses.
         (f)  The school district shall submit the proposed
  curriculum requirements to the State Board of Education for comment
  and the commissioner for approval. The district may not implement
  the program before obtaining the commissioner's approval of the
  proposed curriculum requirements.
         (g)  A student is entitled to a high school diploma if the
  student:
               (1)  successfully complies with the curriculum
  requirements specified under Subsection (e); and
               (2)  performs satisfactorily, as determined by the
  commissioner under Subsection (h), on end-of-course assessment
  instruments listed under Section 39.023(c) for courses in which the
  student was enrolled.
         (h)  For purposes of Subsection (g)(2), the commissioner
  shall determine the level of satisfactory performance on applicable
  end-of-course assessment instruments administered to a student.
         (i)  The school district shall report the academic
  achievement record of students who have completed the program on a
  transcript that clearly identifies the program and distinguishes
  the program from the minimum, recommended, and advanced high school
  programs.
         (j)  A student who has received a diploma under the program
  is exempt from the compulsory school attendance requirements under
  Section 25.085.
         (k)  To the extent this section conflicts with any other
  provision of this code or rule adopted under this code, this section
  prevails.
         (l)  This section expires September 1, 2023.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter E, Chapter 42, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 42.2526 to read as follows:
         Sec. 42.2526.  ADJUSTMENT FOR DISTRICT OPERATING PILOT
  PROGRAM. (a) This section applies only to a school district
  operating a pilot program authorized by Section 28.0255.
         (b)  Beginning with the first school year that follows the
  first school year in which students receive high school diplomas
  under the pilot program authorized by Section 28.0255 and
  continuing for every subsequent school year that the district
  operates the pilot program, the commissioner shall provide funding
  for the district's prekindergarten program under Section 29.153 on
  a full-day basis for a number of prekindergarten students equal to
  twice the number of students who received a high school diploma
  under the pilot program authorized by Section 28.0255 during the
  preceding school year.
         (c)  This section expires September 1, 2023.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.