(a) Purpose. This rule establishes basic requirements
for providing educational and vocational services consistent with
applicable federal and state laws and the educational needs of Texas
Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD) youth.
(b) Orientation and Assessment Units.
(1) Upon admission to a TJJD orientation and assessment
unit, each youth's educational needs are assessed and the youth's
education records are requested from previously attended schools.
(2) An individual case plan is developed for each youth
in accordance with §380.8701 of this title. The case plan includes
academic and vocational objectives.
(c) High-Restriction Facilities. This subsection applies
only to high-restriction facilities with TJJD-operated educational
programs.
(1) TJJD operates schools as provided for in Sections
242.003 and 242.051, Human Resources Code, as well as Chapter 30,
Subchapter E, Education Code.
(2) TJJD educational programs comply with applicable
federal and state requirements.
(3) TJJD provides competency-based instruction, educational
counseling, and vocational counseling to youth.
(4) The school calendar is established annually by
the TJJD Education Division and is approved by the executive director.
(5) Teaching schedules for each teacher include a preparation
period of at least 45 minutes for a minimum of four days per week.
(6) Each school offers all credits necessary to meet
high school graduation requirements following the state curriculum
and administers state assessments required for graduation. As needed,
youth are scheduled for special education, remedial education, English
as a second language, and career and technology education courses.
Youth who complete all Texas Education Agency (TEA) requirements for
high school graduation while enrolled in a TJJD school will graduate
from the TJJD school.
(7) Preparation classes and testing are available to
all age-appropriate youth who express an interest in obtaining a certificate
of high school equivalency.
(8) A four-year diploma plan is developed and revised
at least annually for each youth who is 14 years of age or older and
has not completed a high school diploma. An appropriate education
plan is developed for each youth under 14 years of age and for each
youth who has already obtained a high school diploma or equivalent.
(9) Youth who have received a high school diploma or
equivalent are required to participate in educational programming,
which may consist of college classes and/or vocational training. Youth
who have obtained a certificate of high school equivalency may also
continue to take high school classes.
(10) Youth have the opportunity to receive credit from
courses offered by TJJD schools and from post-secondary courses.
(11) Student mastery of state curriculum requirements
for high school credits is documented and retained in student education
files for verification of course completion.
(12) Schools provide library services and materials
for youth in accordance with §380.9151 of this title.
(13) Schools use available federal funds to provide
vocational instruction/training and required special education services
not otherwise available at the facility.
(14) Youth must complete:
(A) progress tests on designated dates to determine
their improvement since completing admission testing; and
(B) required reading and math assessments prior to
release.
(15) A youth's participation in the education program,
the reading improvement program, and the positive behavior support
system are considered in decisions regarding the youth's privileges
and progress toward release. See §380.9155 of this title for
more information on the reading improvement program and positive behavior
support system.
(d) Medium-Restriction Facilities. This subsection
applies only to TJJD youth placed in TJJD-operated medium-restriction
facilities.
(1) Medium-restriction facilities and local school
districts are required to follow 19 TAC §89.1115, concerning
the provision of public school services to TJJD youth, in addition
to any memorandum of understanding entered into between TJJD and the
local school district.
(2) TJJD shares educational assessment information
with the serving school in the community.
(3) TJJD confers with school officials to advocate
for appropriate academic and vocational course assignments for TJJD
youth.
(4) Daily study time and tutorial assistance are provided
to youth.
(5) A youth's educational participation is considered
in decisions regarding the youth's privileges and progress toward
release.
(e) Parole.
(1) Youth who have not received a high school diploma
or equivalent are required as a condition of parole to be enrolled
in an education or vocational program and attending regularly.
(2) TJJD assists paroled youth who have received a
high school diploma or equivalent to enroll in a post-secondary training
or education program or to obtain full-time employment.
|
Source Note: The provisions of this §380.9141 adopted to be effective December 31, 1996, 21 TexReg 12184; amended to be effective February 20, 1998, 23 TexReg 1114; amended to be effective June 8, 2003, 28 TexReg 4312 ; amended to be effective December 14, 2003, 28 TexReg 11104; transferred effective June 4, 2012, as published in the Texas Register June 22, 2012, 37 TexReg 4639; amended to be effective April 15, 2015, 40 TexReg 1976; amended to be effective September 1, 2019, 44 TexReg 4513 |