CHAPTER 18. JOB CORPS DIPLOMA PROGRAMS

EDUCATION CODE

TITLE 2. PUBLIC EDUCATION

SUBTITLE C. LOCAL ORGANIZATION AND GOVERNANCE

CHAPTER 18. JOB CORPS DIPLOMA PROGRAMS

Sec. 18.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:

(1) "Job Corps diploma program" or "diploma program" means a

public school high school diploma program established and

operated under this chapter.

(2) "Job Corps training program" means any corporate entity

authorized to do business in the state and currently under

contract with the United States Department of Labor to operate a

Job Corps training program under the Workforce Investment Act of

1998 (29 U.S.C. Section 2801 et seq.).

Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch.

377, Sec. 1, eff. June 17, 2005.

Sec. 18.002. ESTABLISHMENT. (a) A Job Corps training program

may establish a high school diploma program to operate public

secondary schools at Job Corps facilities throughout the state.

(b) A Job Corps diploma program established under this chapter

is separate and distinct from the United States Department of

Labor.

Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch.

377, Sec. 1, eff. June 17, 2005.

Sec. 18.003. AUTHORITY. A Job Corps diploma program may offer a

secondary school curriculum, a high school diploma program, and a

General Educational Development program.

Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch.

377, Sec. 1, eff. June 17, 2005.

Sec. 18.004. GOALS. The goals of a Job Corps diploma program

are to:

(1) serve at-risk students who have not been successful in a

traditional school setting;

(2) increase student success rates in obtaining and maintaining

employment; and

(3) decrease future societal costs by offering a high school

diploma program to students who would benefit from Job Corps

academic and vocational programs.

Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch.

377, Sec. 1, eff. June 17, 2005.

Sec. 18.005. GOVERNANCE; LIMITATION ON POWERS; DUTIES. (a) A

Job Corps diploma program shall be governed as provided by this

chapter and policies established by the Job Corps training

program operating the diploma program. Unless otherwise provided

by this chapter, a provision of this code applicable to a school

district does not apply to a Job Corps diploma program.

(b) A Job Corps diploma program may not impose a tax.

(c) A Job Corps diploma program shall:

(1) develop educational programs specifically designed for

persons eligible for enrollment in a Job Corps training program

established by the United States Department of Labor;

(2) coordinate educational programs and services in the diploma

program with programs and services provided by the United States

Department of Labor and other federal and state agencies and

local political subdivisions and by persons who provide programs

and services under contract with the United States Department of

Labor;

(3) provide a course of instruction that includes the required

curriculum under Subchapter A, Chapter 28;

(4) require that students enrolled in the diploma program

satisfy the requirements of Section 39.025 before receiving a

diploma under this chapter; and

(5) comply with a requirement imposed under this title or a rule

adopted under this title relating to the Public Education

Information Management System (PEIMS) to the extent necessary to

determine compliance with this chapter, as determined by the

commissioner.

Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch.

377, Sec. 1, eff. June 17, 2005.

Sec. 18.006. ACCOUNTABILITY. (a) The commissioner shall

develop and implement a system of accountability consistent with

Chapter 39, where appropriate, to be used in assigning an annual

performance rating to Job Corps diploma programs comparable to

the ratings assigned to school districts under Section 39.054.

The commissioner may develop and implement a system of

distinction designations consistent with Subchapter G, Chapter

39, where appropriate, to be used in assigning distinction

designations to Job Corps diploma programs comparable to the

distinction designations assigned to campuses under Subchapter G,

Chapter 39.

(b) In addition to other factors determined to be appropriate by

the commissioner, the accountability system must include

consideration of:

(1) student performance on the end-of-course assessment

instruments required by Section 39.023(c); and

(2) dropout rates, including dropout rates and diploma program

completion rates for the grade levels served by the diploma

program.

Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch.

377, Sec. 1, eff. June 17, 2005.

Amended by:

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch.

1312, Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2007.

Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.

895, Sec. 20, eff. June 19, 2009.

Sec. 18.007. ELIGIBILITY FOR CERTAIN PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. (a)

Any person enrolled in good standing in a Job Corps diploma

program who is not a high school graduate is eligible for

programs or services under this chapter.

(b) A person's eligibility for programs and services under this

chapter does not exclude the person from being eligible for an

educational program or service under any other chapter of this

code.

Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch.

377, Sec. 1, eff. June 17, 2005.

Sec. 18.008. GRANTS AND FEDERAL FUNDS. (a) A Job Corps diploma

program may accept a grant from a public or private organization

and may spend those funds to supplement programs and provide

student services.

(b) A diploma program may accept federal funds and shall use

those funds in compliance with applicable federal law,

regulations, and guidelines.

Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch.

377, Sec. 1, eff. June 17, 2005.

Sec. 18.009. COSTS. (a) A Job Corps training program shall pay

the cost of operating its diploma program.

(b) The operating costs of a program may not be charged to a

school district.

Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch.

377, Sec. 1, eff. June 17, 2005.

Sec. 18.010. PROGRAM EMPLOYEES. (a) Job Corps diploma program

employees are not considered employees of the state.

(b) A diploma program may establish personnel policies as

necessary to ensure its effective and efficient operation under

this chapter.

(c) A diploma program employee required under Chapter 21 to hold

a certificate if employed by a school district must be certified

in accordance with that chapter.

Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch.

377, Sec. 1, eff. June 17, 2005.