By: Hinojosa, et al. S.B. No. 975
(Munoz, Jr., Patrick)
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the operation of dropout recovery programs by certain
public junior colleges in partnership with school districts.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 29, Education Code, is amended by adding
Subchapter K to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER K. PUBLIC JUNIOR COLLEGE AND SCHOOL DISTRICT
PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM TO PROVIDE DROPOUT RECOVERY
Sec. 29.401. APPLICABILITY. (a) This subchapter applies
only to a public junior college, as defined by Section 61.003,
located in a county:
(1) with a population of 750,000 or more; and
(2) with less than 65 percent of the population 25
years and older having graduated from high school, according to the
most recent American Community Survey five-year estimates compiled
by the United States Census Bureau.
(b) The application of this subchapter to a public junior
college is not affected if, after the public junior college enters
into a partnership and begins providing a dropout recovery program
as provided by this subchapter, the county's demographics under
Subsection (a)(2) change and the county no longer meets the
requirements under Subsection (a)(2).
(c) This subchapter applies only to a school district with a
dropout rate that is higher than 15 percent. The application of
this subchapter to a district is not affected if, after the district
enters into a partnership as provided by this subchapter, the
district's dropout rate changes and the district no longer meets
the requirements under this subsection.
(d) This section expires September 1, 2013.
Sec. 29.402. PARTNERSHIP. (a) Beginning September 1,
2012, a public junior college may enter into an articulation
agreement to partner with one or more school districts located in
the public junior college district to provide on the campus of the
public junior college a dropout recovery program for students
described by Subsection (b) to successfully complete and receive a
diploma from a high school of the appropriate partnering school
district.
(b) A person who is under 26 years of age is eligible to
enroll in a dropout recovery program under this subchapter if the
person:
(1) must complete not more than three course credits
to complete the curriculum requirements for the minimum,
recommended, or advanced high school program, as appropriate, for
high school graduation; or
(2) has failed to perform satisfactorily on an
end-of-course assessment instrument administered under Section
39.023(c) or an assessment instrument administered under Section
39.023(c) as that section existed before amendment by Chapter 1312
(S.B. 1031), Acts of the 80th Legislature, Regular Session, 2007.
(c) A public junior college under this section shall:
(1) design a dropout recovery curriculum that includes
career and technology education courses that lead to industry or
career certification;
(2) integrate into the dropout recovery curriculum
research-based strategies to assist students in becoming able
academically to pursue postsecondary education, including:
(A) high quality, college readiness instruction
with strong academic and social supports;
(B) secondary to postsecondary bridging that
builds college readiness skills, provides a plan for college
completion, and ensures transition counseling; and
(C) information concerning appropriate supports
available in the first year of postsecondary enrollment to ensure
postsecondary persistence and success, to the extent funds are
available for the purpose;
(3) offer advanced academic and transition
opportunities, including dual credit courses and college
preparatory courses, such as advanced placement courses; and
(4) coordinate with each partnering school district to
provide in the articulation agreement that the district retains
accountability for student attendance, student completion of high
school course requirements, and student performance on assessment
instruments as necessary for the student to receive a diploma from a
high school of the partnering school district.
(d) A dropout recovery program provided under this
subchapter must comply with the requirements of Sections 29.081(e)
and (f).
Sec. 29.403. FINANCING. (a) A public junior college
district may receive from each partnering school district for each
student from that district enrolled in a dropout recovery program
under this subchapter an amount negotiated between the junior
college district and that partnering district not to exceed the
total average per student funding amount in that district during
the preceding school year for maintenance and operations, including
state and local funding, but excluding money from the available
school fund.
(b) A student who is enrolled in a program under this
subchapter is included in determining the average daily attendance
under Section 42.005 of the partnering school district.
Sec. 29.404. OTHER FUNDING. (a) To the extent consistent
with the General Appropriations Act, a public junior college under
this subchapter is eligible to receive dropout prevention and
intervention program funds appropriated to the agency.
(b) A public junior college under this subchapter may
receive gifts, grants, and donations to use for the purposes of this
subchapter.
SECTION 2. 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.