Bill Text: TX HB2108 | 2013-2014 | 83rd Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to a three-year high school diploma plan and cost-neutral expansion of full-day prekindergarten programs.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-03-05 - Referred to Public Education [HB2108 Detail]

Download: Texas-2013-HB2108-Introduced.html

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83R9979 KKA-D
By: White H.B. No. 2108

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to 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. THREE-YEAR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA PLAN. (a) A
school district may develop and implement a 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.
(b) 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.
(c) 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
postsecondary education courses.
(d) 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.
(e) A student is entitled to a high school diploma if the
student:
(1) successfully complies with the curriculum
requirements specified under Subsection (c); and
(2) performs satisfactorily, as determined by the
commissioner under Subsection (f), on end-of-course assessment
instruments listed under Section 39.023(c) for courses in which the
student was enrolled.
(f) For purposes of Subsection (e)(2), the commissioner
shall determine the level of satisfactory performance on applicable
end-of-course assessment instruments administered to a student.
(g) 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.
(h) A student who has received a diploma under the program
is exempt from the compulsory school attendance requirements under
Section 25.085.
(i) To the extent this section conflicts with any other
provision of this code or rule adopted under this code, this section
prevails.
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 THREE-YEAR
DIPLOMA PROGRAM. (a) This section applies only to a school
district operating a 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 program authorized by Section 28.0255 and continuing for
every subsequent school year that the district operates the
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 program
authorized by Section 28.0255 during the preceding school year.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.