Bill Text: TX HB271 | 2011-2012 | 82nd Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to a study on effective methods for high school dropout prevention.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-03-18 - Referred to Public Education [HB271 Detail]

Download: Texas-2011-HB271-Introduced.html

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By: Johnson H.B. No. 271

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a study on effective methods for high school dropout
prevention.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 7, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 7.035 to read as follows:
Sec. 7.035. STUDY OF BEST PRACTICES FOR HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUT
PREVENTION.
(a) To the extent funding is available under Subsection (c),
the commissioner shall contract with one or more centers for
education research under Section 1.005 to:
(1) study the best practices of high school dropout
prevention efforts that provide coordinated programming in a high
school in conjunction with the elementary, middle, and junior high
schools whose students are assigned to transition to that high
school; and
(2) prepare a report regarding the findings of the
study.
(b) The study under Subsection (a) must include but is not
limited to an investigation of the feasibility of, and if feasible
the best practices for:
(1) using state matching grants of money raised
locally, including:
(A) using state money to maximize local
contributions; and
(B) creating a competitive process to distribute
state matching grants to school districts that have a high school
that has a high dropout rate;
(2) implementing early intervention strategies to
address high school dropout rates in elementary, middle, and junior
high schools whose students are assigned to transition to a high
school with a high dropout rate, including but not limited to the
use of:
(A) dropout prevention programs conducted by
schools and nonprofit entities;
(B) specialized personnel; and
(C) data collection and analysis to identify
students at risk of dropping out;
(3) identifying specific, local causes of dropping out
and developing strategies to address those causes;
(4) involving individuals and entities in dropout
prevention efforts, including:
(A) parents and guardians of students;
(B) nonprofit entities;
(C) businesses; and
(D) local governmental entities, including
municipalities, counties, and community colleges; and
(5) distributing funding and resources for use in high
school dropout prevention programs between a high school and the
elementary, middle, and junior high schools whose students are
assigned to transition to that high school to achieve the greatest
reduction in the dropout rate at that high school.
(c) The agency may solicit and accept a gift, grant, or
donation from any source, including a foundation, nonprofit entity,
private entity, governmental entity, institution of higher
education, or an individual for the implementation of the study.
The study may be implemented only if sufficient funds are available
under this subsection for that purpose.
(d) Not later than December 1, 2012, the commissioner shall
deliver the report produced under Subsection (a) to the governor,
the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of
representatives, and the presiding officers of the standing
committees of each house of the legislature with primary
jurisdiction over public education.
(e) This section expires January 1, 2013.
SECTION 2. 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, 2011.