89R8998 AND-F     By: Cunningham H.B. No. 3551       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to a school district student's reentry into a regular   educational environment from an alternative education program,   including parental rights related to that reentry.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 37.008(a-1), Education Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (a-1)  The agency shall adopt minimum standards for the   operation of disciplinary alternative education programs,   including standards relating to:                (1)  student/teacher ratios;                (2)  student health and safety;                (3)  reporting of abuse, neglect, or exploitation of   students;                (4)  training for teachers in behavior management and   safety procedures; and                (5)  planning for a student's reentry into a regular   educational environment [transition] from a disciplinary   alternative education program [to a regular campus].          SECTION 2.  The heading to Section 37.023, Education Code,   is amended to read as follows:          Sec. 37.023.  REENTRY INTO REGULAR EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT   [TRANSITION] FROM ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAM [TO REGULAR   CLASSROOM].          SECTION 3.  Section 37.023, Education Code, is amended by   amending Subsections (c), (d), and (e) and adding Subsections (c-1)   and (g) 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 reentry into [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 school reentry    [transition] plan developed under Subsection (d); and                (7)  any other appropriate school district personnel.          (c-1)  The campus administrator shall, before finalizing a   personalized school reentry 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 reentry into 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 reentry; and                      (B)  provide information regarding the student   that may be useful in developing the plan.          (d)  The enrollment and school reentry assistance required   by Subsection (c) must include a personalized school reentry   [transition] plan for the student developed by the campus   administrator. A personalized school reentry [transition] plan:                (1)  must include:                      (A)  recommendations for the best educational   placement of the student; and                      (B)  the provision of information to the student's   parent or a person standing in parental relation to the student   regarding the process to request a full individual and initial   evaluation of the student for purposes of special education   services under Section 29.004; 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)  a regular review of the student's progress   toward the student's academic or career goals.          (e)  As soon as practicable after completing a student's   personalized school reentry plan under Subsection (d) [If   practicable], the campus administrator shall provide an electronic   or written copy of the 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)  The commissioner may adopt rules as necessary to   implement this section.          SECTION 4.  This Act applies beginning with the 2025-2026   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, 2025.