Bill Text: TX HB271 | 2011-2012 | 82nd Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to a study on effective methods for high school dropout prevention.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-03-18 - Referred to Public Education [HB271 Detail]
Download: Texas-2011-HB271-Introduced.html
By: Johnson | H.B. No. 271 |
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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. |