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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to certain alternative education programs designed to |
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address workforce development needs for at-risk students. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 29.081, Education Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (e) and adding Subsections (e-1) and (e-2) to |
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read as follows: |
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(e) A school district may use a private or public |
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community-based dropout recovery education program to provide |
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alternative education programs for students at risk of dropping out |
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of school. The program may be offered: |
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(1) at a campus; or |
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(2) through the use of an Internet online program that |
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leads to a high school diploma and prepares the student to enter the |
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workforce. |
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(e-1) A campus-based dropout recovery education program |
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[The programs] must: |
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(1) provide not less than four hours of instructional |
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time per day; |
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(2) employ as faculty and administrators persons with |
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baccalaureate or advanced degrees; |
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(3) provide at least one instructor for each 28 |
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students; |
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(4) perform satisfactorily according to performance |
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indicators and accountability standards adopted for alternative |
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education programs by the commissioner; and |
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(5) comply with this title and rules adopted under |
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this title except as otherwise provided by this subsection. |
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(e-2) An Internet online dropout recovery education program |
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must: |
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(1) include as a part of its curriculum credentials, |
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certifications, or other course offerings that relate directly to |
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employment opportunities in the state; |
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(2) employ as faculty and administrators persons with |
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baccalaureate or advanced degrees; |
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(3) provide an academic coach and local advocate for |
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each student; |
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(4) use an individual learning plan to monitor each |
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student's progress; |
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(5) establish satisfactory requirements for the |
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monthly progress of students according to standards set by the |
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commissioner; |
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(6) provide a monthly report to the student's school |
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district regarding the student's progress; |
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(7) perform satisfactorily according to performance |
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indicators and accountability standards adopted for alternative |
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education programs by the commissioner; and |
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(8) comply with this title and rules adopted under |
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this title except as otherwise provided by this subsection. |
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SECTION 2. Sections 29.0822(b) and (c), Education Code, are |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(b) To enable a school district to provide a program under |
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this section that meets the needs of students described by |
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Subsection (a), a school district that meets application |
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requirements may: |
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(1) provide flexibility in the number of hours each |
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day a student attends; |
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(2) provide flexibility in the number of days each |
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week a student attends; [or] |
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(3) allow a student to enroll in less than or more than |
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a full course load; or |
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(4) allow a student to enroll in a dropout recovery |
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program in which courses are conducted online. |
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(c) Except in the case of a course designed for a student |
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described by Subsection (a)(3) or enrolled in a course described by |
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Subsection (b)(4), a course offered in a program under this section |
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must provide for at least the same number of instructional hours as |
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required for a course offered in a program that meets the required |
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minimum number of instructional days under Section 25.081 and the |
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required length of school day under Section 25.082. |
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SECTION 3. This Act applies beginning with the 2017-2018 |
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school year. |
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SECTION 4. 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. |
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