Texas 2009 - 81st Regular

Texas House Bill HB2747 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	81R9724 CAS-D
2	2	By: Turner of Harris H.B. No. 2747
3	3
4	4
5	5	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
6	6	AN ACT
7	7	relating to disciplinary alternative education programs.
8	8	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
9	9	SECTION 1. Section 37.008, Education Code, is amended by
10	10	amending Subsections (a) and (a-1) and adding Subsections (a-2),
11	11	(a-3), and (n) to read as follows:
12	12	(a) Each school district shall provide a disciplinary
13	13	alternative education program that:
14	14	(1) is provided in a setting other than a student's
15	15	regular classroom;
16	16	(2) is located on or off of a regular school campus;
17	17	(3) provides for the students who are assigned to the
18	18	disciplinary alternative education program to be separated from
19	19	students who are not assigned to the program;
20	20	(4) focuses on English language arts, mathematics,
21	21	science, history, and self-discipline;
22	22	(5) provides for students' educational and behavioral
23	23	needs, including a student's special education needs as provided
24	24	under Subsection (a-2);
25	25	(6) provides supervision and counseling;
26	26	(7) employs:
27	27	(A) only teachers who meet all certification
28	28	requirements established under Subchapter B, Chapter 21; and
29	29	(B) a sufficient number of teachers to maintain
30	30	an average ratio of not less than one teacher for each 15 students
31	31	placed in the district's program; and
32	32	(8) provides not less than the minimum amount of
33	33	instructional time per day required by Section 25.082(a).
34	34	(a-1) The agency shall adopt minimum standards for the
35	35	operation of disciplinary alternative education programs,
36	36	including standards relating to:
37	37	(1) [student/teacher ratios;
38	38	[(2)] student health and safety;
39	39	(2) [(3)] reporting of abuse, neglect, or
40	40	exploitation of students; and
41	41	(3) [(4)] training for teachers in behavior
42	42	management and safety procedures[; and
43	43	[(5) planning for a student's transition from a
44	44	disciplinary alternative education program to a regular campus].
45	45	(a-2) A disciplinary alternative education program must
46	46	provide to a student participating in a school district's special
47	47	education program educational services as necessary to support the
48	48	student in meeting the goals identified in the student's
49	49	individualized education program and in accordance with:
50	50	(1) Subchapter A, Chapter 29;
51	51	(2) Section 37.004; and
52	52	(3) federal law.
53	53	(a-3) Section 29.081 applies to a disciplinary alternative
54	54	education program.
55	55	(n) A school district shall establish transition procedures
56	56	for a student who is returning from a disciplinary alternative
57	57	education program to the student's regularly assigned education
58	58	program. The procedures must provide for:
59	59	(1) a timeline for the student's transition;
60	60	(2) written and oral communication from each
61	61	disciplinary alternative education program employee assigned to
62	62	the student to each employee at the student's regularly assigned
63	63	education program assigned to the student concerning the student's
64	64	disciplinary alternative education program placement, including
65	65	communication concerning the student's academic performance and
66	66	assignments or other tasks completed; and
67	67	(3) a written list of any actions taken during the
68	68	student's disciplinary alternative education program placement to
69	69	satisfy Section 29.081(a).
70	70	SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2009-2010
71	71	school year.
72	72	SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
73	73	a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
74	74	provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
75	75	Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
76	76	Act takes effect September 1, 2009.