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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a model framework to address certain barriers to |
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student learning. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 38, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 38.034 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 38.034. MODEL FRAMEWORK TO ADDRESS CERTAIN BARRIERS TO |
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STUDENT LEARNING. (a) The agency, in coordination with the Health |
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and Human Services Commission and the Texas Department of Juvenile |
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Justice, shall develop a model framework to assist school districts |
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in identifying and coordinating, to the greatest extent possible, |
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an array of existing school-based and community-based programs and |
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resources to maximize the individual and collective impact of those |
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programs and resources for the purposes of: |
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(1) addressing nonacademic barriers to student |
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learning, including for students in a special education program |
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under Subchapter A, Chapter 29; and |
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(2) reducing the use of exclusionary discipline |
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practices. |
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(b) The model framework developed under Subsection (a) may |
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include programs and resources, including strategies, addressing: |
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(1) skills related to managing emotions, establishing |
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and maintaining positive relationships, and making responsible |
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decisions; |
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(2) positive school climate; |
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(3) positive behavior strategies; |
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(4) student physical and mental health, including the |
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effects of childhood trauma and adverse experiences on development |
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and behavior; |
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(5) substance abuse prevention and intervention; |
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(6) bullying prevention and intervention; |
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(7) suicide prevention; |
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(8) truancy prevention and intervention; |
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(9) delinquency prevention and intervention; and |
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(10) dropout prevention. |
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(c) The agency, in coordination with regional education |
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service centers, shall provide school districts with training and |
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technical assistance on: |
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(1) the use of the model framework developed under |
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Subsection (a); and |
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(2) the use of developmentally appropriate, |
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evidence-based strategies in reducing the use of exclusionary |
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discipline practices in prekindergarten programs and special |
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education programs under Subchapter A, Chapter 29, and in grades 1 |
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through 12, including strategies that promote: |
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(A) skills related to managing emotions, |
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establishing and maintaining positive relationships, and making |
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responsible decisions; |
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(B) school-wide positive behavioral |
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interventions and supports; |
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(C) restorative discipline practices; and |
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(D) trauma-informed practices. |
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(d) The agency shall coordinate with the Texas Higher |
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Education Coordinating Board to identify institutions of higher |
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education and private or independent institutions of higher |
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education, as those terms are defined under Section 61.003, with |
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expertise in the strategies described by Subsection (c)(2). To the |
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greatest extent possible, the agency shall partner with those |
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institutions to provide training, technical assistance, and |
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information to school districts on using the programs and |
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resources, including strategies, identified under the model |
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framework. |
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(e) The agency shall identify best practices in addressing |
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nonacademic barriers to learning that are implemented in school |
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districts and communities in this state. |
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(f) The agency shall develop and implement a plan to |
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facilitate peer-to-peer learning among school districts and |
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community-based providers and to replicate the best practices |
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described by Subsection (e). |
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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. |