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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a study on dropout prevention and recovery before the |
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ninth grade. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 29, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 29.919 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 29.919. MIDDLE GRADES DROPOUT PREVENTION AND RECOVERY |
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STUDY. (a) The agency shall conduct a study to identify the best |
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practices for: |
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(1) reducing the number of students who drop out of |
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school before entering the ninth grade; and |
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(2) directing students who drop out of school before |
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entering the ninth grade toward an appropriate educational program. |
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(b) The study must examine: |
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(1) current programs and interventions available to: |
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(A) students who are enrolled in grades four |
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through eight and are at risk of dropping out of school; and |
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(B) students who have dropped out of school |
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before entering the ninth grade; |
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(2) barriers to students attempting to reenroll in a |
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school district or open-enrollment charter school after dropping |
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out of school before entering the ninth grade; |
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(3) best practices in this state and other states for |
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re-engaging students who dropped out of school before entering the |
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ninth grade; and |
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(4) the feasibility of adopting a pilot program to |
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establish an early warning data system beginning with students in |
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the sixth grade to track each student's attendance, behavior, and |
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performance in core subjects. |
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(c) Not later than September 1, 2018, the agency shall |
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submit a report to the legislature that includes the results of the |
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study conducted under this section and any recommendations for |
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legislative or other action. |
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(d) This section expires January 1, 2019. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |