Bill Text: TX HB619 | 2011-2012 | 82nd Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to the provision of courses in behavioral modification by disciplinary alternative education programs and juvenile justice alternative education programs.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-02-18 - Referred to Public Education [HB619 Detail]

Download: Texas-2011-HB619-Introduced.html

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82R4659 CAE-D
By: Dutton H.B. No. 619

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the provision of courses in behavioral modification by
disciplinary alternative education programs and juvenile justice
alternative education programs.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 37.008(a), Education Code, is 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) offers a course in behavioral modification taught
by a person who has at least a bachelor's degree in behavioral
science;
(6) provides for students' educational and behavioral
needs;
(7) [(6)] provides supervision and counseling;
(8) [(7)] employs only teachers who meet all
certification requirements established under Subchapter B, Chapter
21; and
(9) [(8)] provides not less than the minimum amount of
instructional time per day required by Section 25.082(a).
SECTION 2. Section 37.011(d), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(d) A juvenile justice alternative education program must
focus on English language arts, mathematics, science, social
studies, and self-discipline and must offer a course in behavioral
modification taught by a person who has at least a bachelor's degree
in behavioral science. Each school district shall consider course
credit earned by a student while in a juvenile justice alternative
education program as credit earned in a district school. Each
program shall administer assessment instruments under Subchapter
B, Chapter 39, and shall offer a high school equivalency program.
The juvenile board or the board's designee, with the parent or
guardian of each student, shall regularly review the student's
academic progress. In the case of a high school student, the board
or the board's designee, with the student's parent or guardian,
shall review the student's progress towards meeting high school
graduation requirements and shall establish a specific graduation
plan for the student. The program is not required to provide a
course necessary to fulfill a student's high school graduation
requirements other than a course specified by this subsection.
SECTION 3. This Act applies beginning with the 2011-2012
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, 2011.