H.B. No. 2184
AN ACT
relating to a public school student's transition from an
alternative education program to a regular classroom.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 37, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 37.023 to read as follows:
Sec. 37.023. TRANSITION FROM ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAM
TO REGULAR CLASSROOM. (a) In this section:
(1) "Alternative education program" includes:
(A) a disciplinary alternative education program
operated by a school district or open-enrollment charter school;
(B) a juvenile justice alternative education
program; and
(C) a residential program or facility operated by
or under contract with the Texas Juvenile Justice Department, a
juvenile board, or any other governmental entity.
(2) "Licensed clinical social worker" has the meaning
assigned by Section 505.002, Occupations Code.
(b) As soon as practicable after an alternative education
program determines the date of a student's release from the
program, the alternative education program administrator shall:
(1) provide written notice of that date to:
(A) the student's parent or a person standing in
parental relation to the student; and
(B) the administrator of the campus to which the
student intends to transition; and
(2) provide the campus administrator:
(A) an assessment of the student's academic
growth while attending the alternative education program; and
(B) the results of any assessment instruments
administered to the student.
(c) Not later than five instructional days after the date of
a student's release from an alternative education program, the
campus administrator shall coordinate the student's transition to a
regular classroom. The coordination must include assistance and
recommendations from:
(1) school counselors;
(2) school district peace officers;
(3) school resource officers;
(4) licensed clinical social workers;
(5) campus behavior coordinators;
(6) classroom teachers who are or may be responsible
for implementing the student's personalized transition plan
developed under Subsection (d); and
(7) any other appropriate school district personnel.
(d) The assistance required by Subsection (c) must include a
personalized transition plan for the student developed by the
campus administrator. A personalized transition plan:
(1) must include recommendations for the best
educational placement of the student; and
(2) may include:
(A) recommendations for counseling, behavioral
management, or academic assistance for the student with a
concentration on the student's academic or career goals;
(B) recommendations for assistance for obtaining
access to mental health services provided by the district or
school, a local mental health authority, or another private or
public entity;
(C) the provision of information to the student's
parent or a person standing in parental relation to the student
about the process to request a full individual and initial
evaluation of the student for purposes of special education
services under Section 29.004; and
(D) a regular review of the student's progress
toward the student's academic or career goals.
(e) If practicable, the campus administrator, or the
administrator's designee, shall meet with the student's parent or a
person standing in parental relation to the student to coordinate
plans for the student's transition.
(f) This section applies only to a student subject to
compulsory attendance requirements under Section 25.085.
SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2019-2020
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, 2019.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 2184 was passed by the House on May 8,
2019, by the following vote: Yeas 123, Nays 21, 1 present, not
voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 2184 was passed by the Senate on May
22, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: _____________________
Date
_____________________
Governor