Sec. 29.096. COLLABORATIVE DROPOUT REDUCTION PILOT PROGRAM

(a) In this section, "council" means the High School Completion and Success Initiative Council established under Subchapter M, Chapter 39.

(b) Using funds appropriated for that purpose in an amount not to exceed $4 million each year, the commissioner shall establish a pilot program under which a school district or open-enrollment charter school may receive a grant to implement a local collaborative dropout reduction program.

(c) A school district or open-enrollment charter school is eligible to participate and receive a grant under this section under the eligibility criteria established under Section 39.408.

(d) The commissioner shall establish application criteria for receiving a grant under this section. The criteria must require a school district or open-enrollment charter school that applies for a grant to collaborate with local businesses, other local governments or law enforcement agencies, nonprofit organizations, faith-based organizations, and institutions of higher education to deliver proven, research-based intervention services. The goal of the program is to coordinate services and programs among local entities to:

(1) comprehensively reduce the number of students who drop out of school in that community; and

(2) increase the job skills, employment opportunities, and continuing education opportunities of students who might otherwise have dropped out of school.

(e) The commissioner shall establish minimum standards for a local collaborative agreement, including a requirement that the agreement must be signed by an authorized school district or open-enrollment charter school officer and an authorized representative of each of the other participating entities that is a partner in the collaboration. The program must:

(1) limit participation in the program to students authorized to participate by a parent or other person standing in parental relationship;

(2) have as a primary goal graduation from high school under at least the recommended high school program;

(3) provide for local businesses or other employers to offer paid employment or internship opportunities and advanced career and vocational training;

(4) include an outreach component and a lead educational staff member to identify and involve eligible students and public and private entities in participating in the program;

(5) serve a population of students of which at least 50 percent are identified as students at risk of dropping out of school, as described by Section 29.081(d);

(6) allocate not more than 15 percent of grant funds and matching funds, as determined by the commissioner, to administrative expenses;

(7) include matching funds from any of the participating entities; and

(8) include any other requirements as determined by the council.

(f) A local collaborative agreement under this section may:

(1) be coordinated with other services provided to students or their families by public or private entities;

(2) provide for local businesses to support the program, including:

(A) encouraging employees to engage in mentoring students and other school-related volunteer activities; and

(B) using matching funds to provide paid time off for volunteer activities under Paragraph (A) and other activities related to encouraging school involvement of parents of students enrolled in the program;

(3) allow grant funds to reimburse reasonable costs of participating entities;

(4) provide for electronic course delivery by a school district, an open-enrollment charter school, or an institution of higher education; and

(5) be hosted or housed by a chamber of commerce, local workforce agency, local employer, or other public or private participating entity.

(g) The commissioner may approve innovative instructional techniques for courses in the enrichment curriculum leading to high school graduation under a local collaborative dropout reduction program and shall develop accountability measures appropriate to those programs. From funds appropriated, the commissioner may fund electronic courses that are part of a collaborative program and that are otherwise eligible for state funds. Funding for an electronic course may not exceed the total amount of state and local funding for a student to which the school district or open-enrollment charter school would otherwise be entitled.

(h) Nothing in this section authorizes the award of a high school diploma other than in compliance with Section 28.025.

(i) The commissioner shall adopt rules necessary to administer the pilot program under this section.

Added by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1058 , Sec. 11, eff. June 15, 2007. Amended by: Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 895 , Sec. 37, eff. June 19, 2009.