Art. 45.054. FAILURE TO ATTEND SCHOOL PROCEEDINGS    

(1) the individual:

(A) attend school without unexcused absences;

(B) attend a preparatory class for the high school equivalency examination administered under Section 7.111, Education Code, if the court determines that the individual is too old to do well in a formal classroom environment; or

(C) if the individual is at least 16 years of age, take the high school equivalency examination administered under Section 7.111, Education Code;

(2) the individual attend a special program that the court determines to be in the best interest of the individual, including:

(A) an alcohol and drug abuse program;

(B) a rehabilitation program;

(C) a counseling program, including self-improvement counseling;

(D) a program that provides training in self-esteem and leadership;

(E) a work and job skills training program;

(F) a program that provides training in parenting, including parental responsibility;

(G) a program that provides training in manners;

(H) a program that provides training in violence avoidance;

(I) a program that provides sensitivity training; and

(J) a program that provides training in advocacy and mentoring;

(3) the individual and the individual's parent attend a class for students at risk of dropping out of school designed for both the individual and the individual's parent;

(4) the individual complete reasonable community service requirements; or

(5) for the total number of hours ordered by the court, the individual participate in a tutorial program covering the academic subjects in which the student is enrolled provided by the school the individual attends.

(a-1) On a finding by a juvenile court in a county with a population of less than 100,000 that the individual has engaged in conduct that violates Section 25.094, Education Code, the court has jurisdiction to enter an order that includes one or more of the provisions listed under Subsection (a).

(a-2) An order under Subsection (a) may not require a student to attend a juvenile justice alternative education program.

(b) An order under Subsection (a)(3) that requires the parent of an individual to attend a class for students at risk of dropping out of school is enforceable in the justice, municipal, or juvenile court by contempt.

(c) A court having jurisdiction under this article shall endorse on the summons issued to the parent of the individual who is the subject of the hearing an order directing the parent to appear personally at the hearing and directing the person having custody of the individual to bring the individual to the hearing.

(d) An individual commits an offense if the individual is a parent who fails to attend a hearing under this article after receiving notice under Subsection (c) that the individual's attendance is required. An offense under this subsection is a Class C misdemeanor.

(e) On the commencement of proceedings under this article, the court shall inform the individual who is the subject of the hearing and the individual's parent in open court of the individual's expunction rights and provide the individual and the individual's parent with a written copy of Article 45.055.

(f) In addition to any other order authorized by this article, the court may order the Department of Public Safety to suspend the driver's license or permit of the individual who is the subject of the hearing or, if the individual does not have a license or permit, to deny the issuance of a license or permit to the individual for a period specified by the court not to exceed 365 days.

(g) A dispositional order under this article is effective for the period specified by the court in the order but may not extend beyond the 180th day after the date of the order or beyond the end of the school year in which the order was entered, whichever period is longer.

(h) In this article, "parent" includes a person standing in parental relation.

(i) A county, justice, or municipal court shall dismiss the complaint against an individual alleging that the individual committed an offense under Section 25.094, Education Code, if:

(1) the court finds that the individual has successfully complied with the conditions imposed on the individual by the court under this article; or

(2) the individual presents to the court proof that the individual has obtained a high school diploma or a high school equivalency certificate.

(j) A county, justice, or municipal court may waive or reduce a fee or court cost imposed under this article if the court finds that payment of the fee or court cost would cause financial hardship.