89R9544 ANG-D     By: Menéndez S.B. No. 1671       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to individualized education program requirements for   students placed in alternative special education settings and   monitoring of alternative special education settings.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 29, Education Code, is   amended by adding Sections 29.0053 and 29.0105 to read as follows:          Sec. 29.0053.  ADDITIONAL PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS FOR STUDENTS   IN ALTERNATIVE SPECIAL EDUCATION SETTINGS. (a)  In this section:                (1)  "Alternative special education setting" means:                      (A)  a school district campus at which 90 percent   or more of the enrolled students are provided special education and   related services; or                      (B)  a self-contained program that:                            (i)  operates at a district facility that   does not meet the criteria for an instructional campus, as defined   by commissioner rule; and                            (ii)  provides special education and related   services to 90 percent or more of the students in regular   attendance.                (2)  "Committee" means a committee established under   Section 29.005(a).          (b)  In developing or modifying an individualized education   program for a student who receives special education or related   services in an alternative special education setting, the student's   committee shall:                (1)  develop individualized, measurable goals for   academic and social-emotional and behavioral growth that would   allow the student to be returned to a general education setting; and                (2)  ensure that the student is in the least   restrictive environment that is appropriate to meet the student's   educational needs.          (c)  The committee for a student described by Subsection (b)   must meet at least once each semester to review the student's   progress toward the goals developed under Subsection (b) and   determine whether the student may be returned to a general   education setting.          Sec. 29.0105.  MONITORING OF ALTERNATIVE SPECIAL EDUCATION   SETTINGS. (a)  In this section, "alternative special education   setting" has the meaning assigned by Section 29.0053.          (b)  The agency shall assign a unique campus identification   number to each alternative special education setting for purposes   of data collection and analysis, reporting requirements, and state   monitoring of compliance with federal and state law relating to   special education.          (c)  The comprehensive system for monitoring adopted and   implemented under Section 29.010 must provide for:                (1)  specific monitoring regarding a school district's   compliance with the requirements of Section 29.0053; and                (2)  the ongoing collection and analysis of data to   identify patterns of discrepancies between students receiving   special education or related services in an alternative special   education setting and students placed in general education   settings.          SECTION 2.  This Act applies beginning with the 2025-2026   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, 2025.