Sec. 61.806. AWARD OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE; PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM

(a) The board, on a competitive basis, may award financial assistance to an eligible entity that provides support services to students selected as program participants.

(b) The types of services provided to program participants by a partnership program must include a mentoring program and may include skills assessment, tutoring, academic and personal counseling, family counseling and home visits, staff development activities for personnel with direct responsibility for program participants, and mentoring programs.

(c) An eligible entity must make application to the board to receive financial assistance under this subchapter. An application must demonstrate that the program contains the following elements:

(1) involvement of public school officials, teachers, and counselors in identifying and selecting students in elementary school for participation in the partnership program during the elementary and secondary school grades;

(2) criteria for the selection of program participants that include consideration of:

(A) whether the student has a high risk of dropping out of school as measured by academic performance, attendance, discipline problems, and other factors affecting school performance, including teenage pregnancy or parenting, substance abuse, child abuse or neglect, or limited English proficiency; and

(B) whether the student is a low-income student as defined by board rule;

(3) academic and counseling support services for program participants;

(4) involvement of parents and community volunteers to the extent possible; and

(5) an evaluation component that includes follow-up relating to the academic performance of program participants during secondary school and the program participants' plans concerning college attendance.

(d) If financial assistance is awarded to an eligible entity that is not a school district, the application must include a description of the frequency and manner of involvement of the public schools and school personnel, especially teachers and counselors, with the partnership program.

(e) In awarding financial assistance under this subchapter, the board shall give priority to an application that:

(1) provides support services to students enrolled in a public school, including a rural public school, that is in a school district identified by the Texas Education Agency as having a higher than average dropout rate;

(2) is from an eligible entity with demonstrated experience in providing support services to students who are at high risk of dropping out of school;

(3) emphasizes cooperation with the public schools in which potential program participants are enrolled; and

(4) emphasizes parent involvement and volunteer participation from community members.

(f) Repealed by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1083, Sec. 25(20), eff. June 17, 2011.

Redesignated from Education Code, Subchapter P, Chapter 61 by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 91 , Sec. 27.001(9), eff. September 1, 2011.