Bill Text: TX SB1647 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Comm Sub

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

---

Bill Title: Relating to dropout recovery education programs.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)

Status: (Passed) 2023-06-18 - Effective on 9/1/23 [SB1647 Detail]

Download: Texas-2023-SB1647-Comm_Sub.html

---

By: Parker S.B. No. 1647
(Hefner)

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to dropout recovery education programs.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 29.081, Education Code, is amended by
amending Subsections (e), (e-1), (e-2), and (f) and adding
Subsections (e-3), (e-4), (e-5), and (e-6) to read as follows:
(e) A school district or open-enrollment charter school may
use a private or public community-based dropout recovery education
program or education management organization to provide
alternative education programs for students at risk of dropping out
of school. The program may be offered in person at a campus,
remotely, or through a hybrid of in-person and remote instruction[:
[(1) at a campus; or
[(2) through the use of an Internet online program
that leads to a high school diploma and prepares the student to
enter the workforce].
(e-1) An in-person, [A] campus-based dropout recovery
education program must:
(1) provide not less than four hours of instructional
time per day;
(2) employ as faculty and administrators persons with
baccalaureate or advanced degrees;
(3) provide at least one instructor for each 28
students;
(4) perform satisfactorily according to performance
indicators and accountability standards adopted for alternative
education programs by the commissioner; and
(5) comply with this title and rules adopted under
this title except as otherwise provided by this subsection.
(e-2) A remote or hybrid [An Internet online] dropout
recovery education program must:
(1) include as a part of its curriculum credentials,
certifications, or other course offerings that relate directly to
employment opportunities in the state;
(2) employ as faculty and administrators persons with
baccalaureate or advanced degrees;
(3) provide an academic coach and local advocate for
each student;
(4) use an individual learning plan to monitor each
student's progress;
(5) establish satisfactory requirements for the
monthly progress of students according to standards set by the
commissioner;
(6) provide a monthly report to the student's school
district or open-enrollment charter school regarding the student's
progress;
(7) perform satisfactorily according to performance
indicators and accountability standards adopted for alternative
education programs by the commissioner; [and]
(8) operate an in-person student engagement center at
a location suitable for high school students; and
(9) comply with this title and rules adopted under
this title except as otherwise provided by this subsection.
(e-3) A dropout recovery education program under Subsection
(e):
(1) may be operated only by an entity that is
accredited by the agency or a regional accrediting agency;
(2) must offer or provide referrals for mental health
services to students enrolled in the program; and
(3) may not market directly to students enrolled in a
traditional education program.
(e-4) A school district or open-enrollment charter school
may operate one campus-based dropout recovery education program
under Subsection (e) for all students in the district or school.
(e-5) A school district or open-enrollment charter school
administrator or school counselor may refer a student to a dropout
recovery education program under Subsection (e) if the
administrator or counselor determines that enrollment in the
program could prevent the student from dropping out of school.
(e-6) Each year, a school district or open-enrollment
charter school shall post on the district's or school's Internet
website a report on measurable outcomes for each dropout recovery
education program under Subsection (e) offered by the district or
school. The report must include the percentage of students
enrolled in the program during the preceding school year who
attained each of the following outcomes:
(1) transfer to a traditional education program;
(2) successful completion of the program;
(3) dual credit; or
(4) a credential of value.
(f) The commissioner shall include a student who
successfully completes a course offered through [students in
attendance in] a program under Subsection (e) in the computation of
the district's or school's average daily attendance for funding
purposes. For a student who successfully completes a remote course
offered through the program, the commissioner shall include the
student in the computation of the district's or school's average
daily attendance with an attendance rate equal to:
(1) the district's or school's average attendance rate
for students successfully completing a course offered in person
under the program; or
(2) if the district or school does not offer courses in
person under the program, the statewide average attendance rate for
students successfully completing a course offered in person under a
program under Subsection (e).
SECTION 2. Section 39.023, Education Code, is amended by
amending Subsection (c-3) and adding Subsection (c-10) to read as
follows:
(c-3) Except as provided by Subsection (c-7) or (c-10) or as
otherwise provided by this subsection, in adopting a schedule for
the administration of assessment instruments under this section,
the State Board of Education shall ensure that assessment
instruments administered under Subsection (a) or (c) are not
administered on the first instructional day of a week. On request
by a school district or open-enrollment charter school, the
commissioner may allow the district or school to administer an
assessment instrument required under Subsection (a) or (c) on the
first instructional day of a week if administering the assessment
instrument on another instructional day would result in a
significant administrative burden due to specific local
conditions.
(c-10) An entity that operates a dropout recovery education
program under Section 29.081(e) may administer an assessment
instrument under this section on any date selected by the entity
that falls within a testing window established, in accordance with
Subsection (c-3), for the administration of the assessment
instrument.
SECTION 3. This Act applies beginning with the 2023-2024
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, 2023.