bill renaming “transition” to “reentry” for alternative programs

The text as introduced · 722 words

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.