| 1 | 1 | | 81R11807 KKA-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Olivo H.B. No. 4603 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
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| 7 | 7 | | relating to the educational needs of students of limited English |
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| 8 | 8 | | proficiency who are placed in disciplinary alternative education |
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| 9 | 9 | | programs. |
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| 10 | 10 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 11 | 11 | | SECTION 1. Sections 37.008(a) and (a-1), Education Code, |
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| 12 | 12 | | are amended to read as follows: |
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| 13 | 13 | | (a) Each school district shall provide a disciplinary |
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| 14 | 14 | | alternative education program that: |
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| 15 | 15 | | (1) is provided in a setting other than a student's |
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| 16 | 16 | | regular classroom; |
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| 17 | 17 | | (2) is located on or off of a regular school campus; |
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| 18 | 18 | | (3) provides for the students who are assigned to the |
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| 19 | 19 | | disciplinary alternative education program to be separated from |
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| 20 | 20 | | students who are not assigned to the program; |
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| 21 | 21 | | (4) focuses on English language arts, mathematics, |
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| 22 | 22 | | science, history, and self-discipline; |
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| 23 | 23 | | (5) provides for students' educational and behavioral |
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| 24 | 24 | | needs, including the educational needs of students of limited |
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| 25 | 25 | | English proficiency, as defined by Section 29.052; |
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| 26 | 26 | | (6) provides supervision and counseling; |
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| 27 | 27 | | (7) employs only teachers who meet all certification |
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| 28 | 28 | | requirements established under Subchapter B, Chapter 21; and |
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| 29 | 29 | | (8) provides not less than the minimum amount of |
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| 30 | 30 | | instructional time per day required by Section 25.082(a). |
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| 31 | 31 | | (a-1) The agency shall adopt minimum standards for the |
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| 32 | 32 | | operation of disciplinary alternative education programs, |
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| 33 | 33 | | including standards relating to: |
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| 34 | 34 | | (1) student/teacher ratios; |
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| 35 | 35 | | (2) student health and safety; |
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| 36 | 36 | | (3) reporting of abuse, neglect, or exploitation of |
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| 37 | 37 | | students; |
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| 38 | 38 | | (4) training for teachers in behavior management and |
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| 39 | 39 | | safety procedures; [and] |
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| 40 | 40 | | (5) planning for a student's transition from a |
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| 41 | 41 | | disciplinary alternative education program to a regular campus; and |
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| 42 | 42 | | (6) meeting the educational needs of students of |
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| 43 | 43 | | limited English proficiency, as defined by Section 29.052. |
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| 44 | 44 | | SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2009-2010 |
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| 45 | 45 | | school year. |
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| 46 | 46 | | SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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| 47 | 47 | | a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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| 48 | 48 | | provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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| 49 | 49 | | Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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| 50 | 50 | | Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |
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