By: Gallegos S.B. No. 346
(Hochberg)
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the curriculum that must be provided by a disciplinary
alternative education program.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subsections (a) and (l), Section 37.008,
Education Code, are amended to read as follows:
(a) Each school district shall provide a disciplinary
alternative education program that:
(1) is provided in a setting other than a student's
regular classroom;
(2) is located on or off of a regular school campus;
(3) provides for the students who are assigned to the
disciplinary alternative education program to be separated from
students who are not assigned to the program;
(4) focuses on English language arts, mathematics,
science, history, and self-discipline;
(5) provides for students' educational and behavioral
needs;
(6) provides supervision and counseling;
(7) employs only teachers who meet all certification
requirements established under Subchapter B, Chapter 21; [and]
(8) provides not less than the minimum amount of
instructional time per day required by Section 25.082(a); and
(9) provides for students who are assigned to the
disciplinary alternative education program for one semester or
more:
(A) structured courses in English language arts,
mathematics, science, history, and self-discipline that are
equivalent in content and rigor to courses in those subjects as
provided in the regular classroom setting; and
(B) an established curriculum for each grade
level that provides students an opportunity to achieve promotion to
the next grade level or to graduate from high school on the same
schedule as students in the regular classroom setting.
(l) A school district is required to provide in the
district's disciplinary alternative education program a course
necessary to fulfill a student's high school graduation
requirements [only as provided by this subsection]. A school
district shall offer a student removed to a disciplinary
alternative education program an opportunity to complete
coursework before the beginning of the next school year. The school
district may provide the student an opportunity to complete
coursework through any method available, including a
correspondence course, distance learning, or summer school. The
district may not charge the student for a course provided under this
subsection.
SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2011-2012
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, 2011.