81R11375 CAE-D
By: Olivo H.B. No. 3574
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to establishing a pilot program for certain students at
risk of dropping out of school.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 29, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 29.0961 to read as follows:
Sec. 29.0961. DROPOUT PREVENTION PILOT PROGRAM. (a) The
commissioner by rule shall establish a pilot program under which
participating school districts implement a dropout prevention
program for students in grade six.
(b) A school district may apply to the commissioner to
participate in the pilot program. Subject to receipt of acceptable
applications, the commissioner shall select school districts for
participation in the pilot program. An application by a school
district must describe the manner in which the pilot program will be
implemented in the school district, including specific, measurable
performance indicators through which the school district will
demonstrate the effectiveness of the program in reducing dropout
rates.
(c) A school district participating in the pilot program
shall implement intervention models that include best practices
for preventing students from dropping out of school as determined
by the agency and by the best practices clearinghouse under Section
7.009. A district must provide students participating in the
program with academic mentoring.
(d) A school district participating in the pilot program
shall provide an annual progress report to the agency not later than
August 1 of each year the district is participating in the pilot
program. The report must state in detail the type of intervention
model used in the district and the effect of the pilot program on
the district, including:
(1) any effect on the academic progress of students
who are participating in a pilot program, as measured by
performance on assessment instruments, including assessment
instruments administered under Section 39.023;
(2) a comparison of student progress at a campus or in
a classroom in the school district that is participating in the
pilot program as compared to student progress at a campus or in a
classroom in a district that is not participating in the pilot
program;
(3) any effect on student attendance or dropout rates;
and
(4) any effect on student enrollment in high school.
(e) A pilot program shall continue to monitor the
educational career and success of a student enrolled in the pilot
program for six years from the date the student enrolls in the
program. If a student enrolled in the pilot program transfers to
another school district in this state, the district to which the
student transfers shall provide the district participating in the
pilot program information to enable the district to monitor the
student's progress. A pilot program must include research and the
district must conduct a relational study that evaluates the
relationship between the measures implemented through the pilot
program and dropout rates in the district.
(f) The agency shall provide technical assistance to a
school district participating in the pilot program, including
assisting the district in researching the effectiveness of the
program.
(g) The commissioner shall adopt rules necessary to
implement this section.
SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2009-2010
school year.
SECTION 3. 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, 2009.