85R12214 MM-D
By: Lucio S.B. No. 1755
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a graduation progress committee for certain public
school students in the conservatorship of the Department of Family
and Protective Services.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 33, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 33.9041 to read as follows:
Sec. 33.9041. GRADUATION PROGRESS COMMITTEE FOR CERTAIN
CHILDREN IN CONSERVATORSHIP OF STATE. (a) This section applies
only to a student in grades 7 through 12 who is in the
conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective
Services.
(b) For each student to whom this section applies, the
school district that the student attends shall establish a
graduation progress committee at the beginning of the student's
seventh grade year to ensure that the student is progressing
satisfactorily toward high school graduation and to recommend
services and assistance, as necessary, to support the student's
progress toward graduation. The committee shall be composed of:
(1) a school administrator of the district;
(2) a school counselor employed by the district;
(3) one or more of the student's teachers;
(4) a representative of the Department of Family and
Protective Services;
(5) as applicable:
(A) the student's foster parent; or
(B) a designated advocate described by
Subsection (c) if the student does not have a foster parent or if
the student's foster parent is unable to serve;
(6) as appropriate, the student; and
(7) any other person familiar with the student, on
request by the student's foster parent, the district, or the
Department of Family and Protective Services.
(c) The commissioner by rule shall establish a procedure for
appointing an alternative committee member if a person described by
Subsection (b) is unable to serve, including appointing a
designated advocate for the student if the student does not have a
foster parent or if the student's foster parent is unable to serve.
(d) The school district shall provide an appropriate
translator, if available, for a person described by Subsection
(b)(5), (6), or (7) who is unable to speak English.
(e) The school district shall ensure a good faith effort is
made to timely notify each person described by Subsection (b)(5),
(6), or (7) of the time and place for convening the graduation
progress committee and the purpose of the committee. The notice
must be:
(1) provided in person or by regular mail or e-mail;
(2) clear and easy to understand; and
(3) written in English, in Spanish, or, to the extent
practicable, in the native language of the person receiving the
notice.
(f) A student's graduation progress committee shall meet at
least once every six months or more frequently on request by any
committee member.
(g) Not later than the fifth school day before the date on
which a student's graduation progress committee is scheduled to
meet, the school district shall notify each of the student's
teachers of the meeting and invite each teacher to submit to the
committee in writing or in person information regarding the
student's academic progress and behavior and any recommendations
for improvement.
(h) At each committee meeting, a student's graduation
progress committee shall:
(1) review any information provided by the student's
teachers and any other information relevant to the student's
academic progress;
(2) recommend academic or behavioral support and
assistance for the student, as appropriate; and
(3) evaluate the effectiveness of any academic or
behavioral support or assistance provided to the student and, if
appropriate, adjust the committee's recommendations accordingly.
(i) The school district shall:
(1) to the extent practicable, provide any academic or
behavioral support or assistance recommended by a student's
graduation progress committee under Subsection (h); or
(2) identify alternative resources that may fulfill
the committee's recommendations.
(j) The school district shall prepare a report of each
meeting of a student's graduation progress committee and provide a
copy of the report to each committee member. The Department of
Family and Protective Services shall include a copy of each report
in any file maintained by the department for the student.
(k) The commissioner may adopt rules as necessary to
implement this section.
SECTION 2. Notwithstanding Section 33.9041(b), Education
Code, as added by this Act, a school district shall establish a
graduation progress committee for each student to whom that section
applies not later than September 1, 2017.
SECTION 3. This act applies beginning with the 2017-2018
school year.
SECTION 4. 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, 2017.