By: Lucio III (Senate Sponsor - Lucio) H.B. No. 3706          (In the Senate - Received from the House May 10, 2017;   May 12, 2017, read first time and referred to Committee on   Education; May 22, 2017, reported favorably by the following vote:     Yeas 9, Nays 0; May 22, 2017, sent to printer.)Click here to see the committee vote     A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT     relating to certain alternative education programs designed to   address workforce development needs for at-risk students.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 29.081, Education Code, is amended by   amending Subsection (e) and adding Subsections (e-1) and (e-2) to   read as follows:          (e)  A school district may use a private or public   community-based dropout recovery education program to provide   alternative education programs for students at risk of dropping out   of school.  The program may be offered:                (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)  A campus-based dropout recovery education program   [The programs] 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)  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 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)  comply with this title and rules adopted under   this title except as otherwise provided by this subsection.          SECTION 2.  Sections 29.0822(b) and (c), Education Code, are   amended to read as follows:          (b)  To enable a school district to provide a program under   this section that meets the needs of students described by   Subsection (a), a school district that meets application   requirements may:                (1)  provide flexibility in the number of hours each   day a student attends;                (2)  provide flexibility in the number of days each   week a student attends; [or]                (3)  allow a student to enroll in less than or more than   a full course load; or                (4)  allow a student to enroll in a dropout recovery   program in which courses are conducted online.          (c)  Except in the case of a course designed for a student   described by Subsection (a)(3) or enrolled in a course described by   Subsection (b)(4), a course offered in a program under this section   must provide for at least the same number of instructional hours as   required for a course offered in a program that meets the required   minimum number of instructional days under Section 25.081 and the   required length of school day under Section 25.082.          SECTION 3.  This Act applies beginning with the 2017-2018   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, 2017.     * * * * *