88R18837 TSS-F     By: Allen, A. Johnson of Harris, H.B. No. 1626       Thompson of Harris, Wu, Hull     Substitute the following for H.B. No. 1626:     By:  Thompson of Harris C.S.H.B. No. 1626       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to a public school student's transition from an   alternative education program to a regular educational   environment, including parental rights related to that transition,   and the admission of certain students with a criminal or   disciplinary history.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 25.001, Education Code, is amended by   adding Subsection (b-3) to read as follows:          (b-3)  Notwithstanding any provision of Chapter 37, the   board of trustees of a school district or the board's designee may   not refuse to enroll a student based on the student's criminal,   juvenile, or disciplinary history or standing.  A district shall   promptly enroll a student released from an alternative education   program, as defined by Section 37.023, who is otherwise eligible   for enrollment under Subsection (b).  This subsection may not be   construed to prohibit the board or the board's designee from:                (1)  revoking admission of a student under Subsection   (b-1);                (2)  refusing to admit a person under 18 years of age   whom the board is not required to admit under Subsection (d);                (3)  transferring a student in accordance with Section   25.0341 or 25.0342; or                (4)  expelling a student or placing a student in a   disciplinary alternative education program under Section 37.008 or   a juvenile justice alternative education program under Section   37.011 in accordance with Section 37.0051, 37.0052, 37.006, 37.007,   37.0081, or 37.011, as applicable.          SECTION 2.  The heading to Section 37.023, Education Code,   is amended to read as follows:          Sec. 37.023.  TRANSITION FROM ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAM   TO REGULAR EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT [CLASSROOM].          SECTION 3.  Section 37.023, Education Code, is amended by   amending Subsections (c), (d), and (e) and adding Subsections   (c-1), (d-1), (g), and (h) to read as follows:          (c)  Not later than five instructional days after the date of   a student's release from an alternative education program, the   campus administrator shall hold a meeting to coordinate the   student's enrollment and transition to a regular educational   environment [classroom].  The coordination must include assistance   and recommendations from the student's parent or a person standing   in parental relation to the student and, as applicable:                (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);                (7)  for a student who is a student with a disability as   defined by Section 21.001, the campus special education   administrator or other campus administrator responsible for   overseeing the student's educational program, as applicable;                (8)  for a student who is a court-related child, the   liaison officer appointed under Section 37.014; and                (9) [(7)]  any other appropriate school district   personnel.          (c-1)  The campus administrator shall, before finalizing a   personalized transition plan for a student under Subsection (d),   provide to the student's parent or a person standing in parental   relation to the student:                (1)  a list of the people who will be assisting in the   student's enrollment and transition to a regular educational   environment under Subsection (c); and                (2)  an opportunity to meet, either in person or   remotely, with the people included on the list described by   Subdivision (1) to:                      (A)  discuss any proposed assistance or   recommendations for the student's transition; and                      (B)  provide information regarding the student   that may be useful in developing the plan.          (d)  The enrollment and transition 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 based on a review of the   student's previous coursework, course credit earned, performance   on any assessment instrument administered under Section 37.0082,   and educational record, including:                      (A)  a calculation of the number of course credits   the student has earned toward graduation requirements, as   determined under Subsection (g); and                      (B)  a description of appropriate courses in which   the student should be placed; 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; and                      (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].          (d-1)  After a student has transitioned to a regular   educational environment under this section, the campus   administrator shall conduct reviews at the beginning of each   semester and the end of each school year of the student's progress   toward the student's academic or career goals.          (e)  As soon as practicable after completing a student's   personalized transition plan under Subsection (d) [If   practicable], the campus administrator shall provide an electronic   or written copy of the personalized transition plan to [, 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].          (g)  A campus administrator shall adopt a policy that, to the   greatest extent possible, allows for credits that were successfully   completed while the student was enrolled in an alternative   education program or at a previous school, including a school   within the Windham School District, to fulfill credits required for   high school graduation, provided that the completed courses meet   the standards adopted under Section 28.002(c).  The policy adopted   under this subsection may provide for partial credit, if determined   appropriate by the administrator.          (h)  The commissioner may adopt rules as necessary to   implement this section.          SECTION 4.  This Act applies beginning with the 2023-2024   school year.          SECTION 5.  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.