By: Bowers H.B. No. 1992

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the establishment of the behaviorally at-risk student grant program to provide social and cognitive skills training to certain public school students.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 37, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 37.029 to read as follows:

Sec. 37.029. BEHAVIORALLY AT-RISK STUDENT GRANT PROGRAM. (a) In this section, "behaviorally at-risk student" means a student in grades 7 through 12 who may have experienced an adverse childhood experience or other early childhood trauma and has been suspended, expelled, removed from class, or subject to another disciplinary action at least one time during the school year for:

(1) engaging in abusive, threatening, or intimidating behavior, including against a teacher;

(2) engaging in conduct that constitutes assault or other aggressive behavior; or

(3) possessing a prohibited weapon or controlled substance.

(b) The commissioner shall establish and administer a program to award grants to school districts and open-enrollment charter schools at which a threshold number, as determined by commissioner rule, of behaviorally at-risk students are enrolled.

(c) A school district or open-enrollment charter school may use funds awarded under the grant program only to implement a social and cognitive skills training program for behaviorally at-risk students that:

(1) is evidence-based and supported by research conducted by a reputable research organization;

(2) focuses on teaching students skills for conflict resolution, anger management, and peer mediation and other necessary social and emotional skills;

(3) is provided to students on a voluntary basis;

(4) is provided in a manner that will not remove a participating student from instruction in the required curriculum under Section 28.002 for the grade level in which the student is enrolled;

(5) is provided to students in a group of between four and eight students at least twice per week during the first semester a student participates in the program and informally during the second semester; and

(6) engages closely with participating students and the parents of or persons standing in parental relation to the student.

(d) A principal or other appropriate administrator of a campus in a school district or open-enrollment charter school awarded a grant under this section shall identify students who are eligible to participate in a program provided under Subsection (c). The principal or administrator shall notify the parent of or person standing in parental relation to a student identified under this subsection of the student's eligibility to participate in the program and request permission for the student's participation.

(e) A school district or open-enrollment charter school may not allow a student to participate in a program provided under Subsection (c) unless the parent of or person standing in parental relation to the student has consented to the student's participation.

(f) Notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter, a school district or open-enrollment charter school may not:

(1) place a student participating in a program provided under Subsection (c) in a disciplinary alternative education program or a juvenile justice alternative education program; or

(2) use funds awarded under the grant program for costs associated with:

(A) in-school suspension, a disciplinary alternative education program, a juvenile justice alternative education program, or another discipline management program offered under this chapter other than a program provided under Subsection (c); or

(B) the provision of peace officers or security personnel, as described by Section 37.081, for the district or school.

(g) In providing a program under Subsection (c), a school district or open-enrollment charter school may:

(1) employ educators or other qualified personnel; or

(2) contract with a nonprofit organization that employs student advisors who:

(A) hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution of higher education; and

(B) work with not more than 100 behaviorally at-risk students during each semester.

(h) The agency shall develop and provide a comprehensive training program designed to instruct educators and other individuals involved in providing a program under Subsection (c) regarding program requirements and best practices. A school district or open-enrollment charter school may not permit a person to be involved in providing a program under Subsection (c) unless the person has attended a training program developed and provided under this subsection. The agency may contract with a nonprofit organization to provide the training program required by this subsection.

(i) A school district or open-enrollment charter school that has been awarded a grant under this section shall annually report to the agency data relating to the progress of students participating in a program under Subsection (c) compared to the progress of behaviorally at-risk students who did not participate in a program under Subsection (c).

(j) The commissioner shall adopt rules necessary to implement this section, including rules that:

(1) establish eligibility criteria for a school district or open-enrollment charter school to receive a grant under this section;

(2) provide application procedures and guidelines for school districts and open-enrollment charter schools; and

(3) ensure compliance with the reporting requirements for school districts and open-enrollment charter schools awarded grants under this section.

SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2025-2026 school year.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2025.