Bill Text: TX HB3706 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Relating to certain alternative education programs designed to address workforce development needs for at-risk students.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Passed) 2017-06-15 - Effective immediately [HB3706 Detail]
Download: Texas-2017-HB3706-Enrolled.html
H.B. No. 3706 |
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relating to certain alternative education programs designed to | ||
address workforce development needs for at-risk students. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Section 29.081, Education Code, is amended by | ||
amending Subsection (e) and adding Subsections (e-1) and (e-2) to | ||
read as follows: | ||
(e) A school district may use a private or public | ||
community-based dropout recovery education program to provide | ||
alternative education programs for students at risk of dropping out | ||
of school. The program may be offered: | ||
(1) at a campus; or | ||
(2) through the use of an Internet online program that | ||
leads to a high school diploma and prepares the student to enter the | ||
workforce. | ||
(e-1) A campus-based dropout recovery education program | ||
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(1) provide not less than four hours of instructional | ||
time per day; | ||
(2) employ as faculty and administrators persons with | ||
baccalaureate or advanced degrees; | ||
(3) provide at least one instructor for each 28 | ||
students; | ||
(4) perform satisfactorily according to performance | ||
indicators and accountability standards adopted for alternative | ||
education programs by the commissioner; and | ||
(5) comply with this title and rules adopted under | ||
this title except as otherwise provided by this subsection. | ||
(e-2) An Internet online dropout recovery education program | ||
must: | ||
(1) include as a part of its curriculum credentials, | ||
certifications, or other course offerings that relate directly to | ||
employment opportunities in the state; | ||
(2) employ as faculty and administrators persons with | ||
baccalaureate or advanced degrees; | ||
(3) provide an academic coach and local advocate for | ||
each student; | ||
(4) use an individual learning plan to monitor each | ||
student's progress; | ||
(5) establish satisfactory requirements for the | ||
monthly progress of students according to standards set by the | ||
commissioner; | ||
(6) provide a monthly report to the student's school | ||
district regarding the student's progress; | ||
(7) perform satisfactorily according to performance | ||
indicators and accountability standards adopted for alternative | ||
education programs by the commissioner; and | ||
(8) comply with this title and rules adopted under | ||
this title except as otherwise provided by this subsection. | ||
SECTION 2. Sections 29.0822(b) and (c), Education Code, are | ||
amended to read as follows: | ||
(b) To enable a school district to provide a program under | ||
this section that meets the needs of students described by | ||
Subsection (a), a school district that meets application | ||
requirements may: | ||
(1) provide flexibility in the number of hours each | ||
day a student attends; | ||
(2) provide flexibility in the number of days each | ||
week a student attends; [ |
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(3) allow a student to enroll in less than or more than | ||
a full course load; or | ||
(4) allow a student to enroll in a dropout recovery | ||
program in which courses are conducted online. | ||
(c) Except in the case of a course designed for a student | ||
described by Subsection (a)(3) or enrolled in a course described by | ||
Subsection (b)(4), a course offered in a program under this section | ||
must provide for at least the same number of instructional hours as | ||
required for a course offered in a program that meets the required | ||
minimum number of instructional days under Section 25.081 and the | ||
required length of school day under Section 25.082. | ||
SECTION 3. This Act applies beginning with the 2017-2018 | ||
school year. | ||
SECTION 4. 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, 2017. | ||
______________________________ | ______________________________ | |
President of the Senate | Speaker of the House | |
I certify that H.B. No. 3706 was passed by the House on May 9, | ||
2017, by the following vote: Yeas 145, Nays 0, 2 present, not | ||
voting. | ||
______________________________ | ||
Chief Clerk of the House | ||
I certify that H.B. No. 3706 was passed by the Senate on May | ||
24, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. | ||
______________________________ | ||
Secretary of the Senate | ||
APPROVED: _____________________ | ||
Date | ||
_____________________ | ||
Governor |