| (a) Mission of the JJAEP.
(1) Academically, the mission of the JJAEP shall be
to enable students to perform at grade level.
(2) The mission statement must be located in the JJAEP's
policies and procedures manual and in the student code of conduct.
(b) Policies and Procedures.
(1) The JJAEP must:
(A) have written policies and procedures that govern
all aspects of the operation of the program, including personnel,
administration, programming, training, and any other program requirement
included in this chapter;
(B) be operated according to the written policies and
procedures; and
(C) submit the written policies and procedures to TJJD
for review and comment at the following times:
(i) no later than October 1 of each year; and
(ii) upon request from TJJD.
(2) The written policies and procedures must be readily
accessible to every JJAEP staff member.
(c) Memorandum of Understanding.
(1) The juvenile board must annually enter into a memorandum
of understanding with each participating school district. The memorandum
of understanding must address the items listed in Section 37.011(k),
Education Code.
(2) The memorandum of understanding must be submitted
to TJJD annually no later than October 1.
(d) Research Studies and Experimentation. The JJAEP
must adhere to requirements established by §341.200 of this title
regarding research studies and experimentation involving students
in JJAEPs.
(e) JJAEP Performance Review. The juvenile board and
the JJAEP administrator must conduct an annual performance review
of the JJAEP between the conclusion of the school year and the beginning
of the next school year to determine the effectiveness of the program.
(1) The information reviewed must include:
(A) the number of student entries and exits during
the previous school year;
(B) the reason for student entries and exits during
the previous school year;
(C) the number of students who entered the program
during the previous school year who were eligible for special education
services;
(D) student academic performance as measured by passing
rates and, if applicable, half-credits earned for students who exited
the program during the previous school year;
(E) attendance rates for the entire length of enrollment
for students who exited the program during the previous school year;
(F) assessment scores for mathematics and reading as
measured by the TJJD-required pre-test and post-test scores, if applicable,
for students who exited the program during the previous school year;
(G) the number of new arrests or referrals that occurred
during the entire length of enrollment for students who exited the
JJAEP during the previous school year; and
(H) the number of restraints by type (i.e., mechanical
or personal) during the previous school year.
(2) A written report must be completed that includes
the data listed in paragraph (1) of this subsection, an analysis of
the JJAEP's effectiveness, and any changes to be implemented as a
result of the review.
(3) The report must be submitted to TJJD no later than
October 1.
(f) JJAEP Management Review. The JJAEP administrator
must conduct an annual review of the overall operations of the JJAEP
before the beginning of each school year.
(1) The review must include an assessment of the following
topics and identify any needed changes:
(A) safety and security;
(B) inter-local cooperation; and
(C) the student code of conduct.
(2) Existing policies and procedures must be reviewed
and assessed to determine their continued relevance to the mission
of the JJAEP.
(3) Documentation of the review must be maintained.
(g) Required Staff Members.
(1) JJAEP Administrator. The juvenile board or chief
juvenile probation officer must designate a JJAEP administrator. The
JJAEP administrator must:
(A) hold a bachelor’s degree from a college or
university accredited by an organization recognized by the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board;
(B) possess juvenile justice experience and/or education
experience;
(C) ensure compliance with all applicable laws and
rules related to JJAEPs; and
(D) ensure compliance with provisions of all contracts
with TJJD related to JJAEPs.
(2) Instructional Staff Members.
(A) The JJAEP must maintain a ratio of at least one
instructional staff member for every 24 enrolled students. Instructional
staff members include only:
(i) teachers who are certified, are highly qualified,
and/or meet the teaching requirements of the organization providing
education services at the JJAEP;
(ii) certified educational aides; and
(iii) substitute teachers.
(B) The instructional staff members for the JJAEP must
include at least one teacher certified by the State Board for Education
Certification (SBEC).
(C) The JJAEP must provide at least the minimum number
of special education teachers required by federal law.
(D) A special education teacher must be certified as
a special education teacher by SBEC or be eligible to work as a special
education teacher prior to obtaining certification, as allowed by
SBEC.
(E) Upon entry into the JJAEP, substitute teachers
who are not JJAEP staff members must be provided the JJAEP student
code of conduct and JJAEP policies and procedures that directly affect
their duties and sign an acknowledgment of receipt.
(3) Caseworkers.
(A) A caseworker must be a social worker, juvenile
probation officer assigned to the JJAEP, counselor, or other mental
health provider, as defined in Chapter 355 of this title.
(B) Caseworkers must meet the minimum professional
requirements and be licensed or certified by the appropriate licensing
board in their field.
(C) The JJAEP must maintain a ratio of at least one
caseworker for every 50 enrolled students.
(i) At a JJAEP with 50 or fewer enrolled students,
the caseworker must be present during all operational hours of the
JJAEP, except as noted in clauses (vi) and (vii) of this subparagraph.
(ii) At a JJAEP with 51-100 enrolled students, one
caseworker must be present during all operational hours of the JJAEP,
except as noted in clauses (vi) and (vii) of this subparagraph. The
second caseworker must be present for at least four of the JJAEP's
daily operational hours, except as noted in clauses (vi) and (vii)
of this subparagraph.
(iii) At a JJAEP with 101-150 enrolled students, two
caseworkers must be present during all operational hours of the JJAEP,
except as noted in clauses (vi) and (vii) of this subparagraph. The
third caseworker must be present for at least four of the JJAEP's
daily operational hours, except as noted in clauses (vi) and (vii)
of this subparagraph.
(iv) At a JJAEP with 151-200 enrolled students, three
caseworkers must be present during all operational hours of the JJAEP,
except as noted in clauses (vi) and (vii) of this subparagraph. The
fourth caseworker must be present for at least four of the JJAEP's
daily operational hours, except as noted in clauses (vi) and (vii)
of this subparagraph.
(v) At a JJAEP with more than 200 enrolled students,
the number of caseworkers required to be present during all operational
hours of the JJAEP follows the same pattern set forth in clauses (i)
- (iv) of this subparagraph.
(vi) A substitute caseworker is not required when a
caseworker is absent for three or fewer consecutive school days. A
substitute caseworker is required if an absence is more than three
consecutive school days.
(vii) A caseworker who must leave the JJAEP site to
complete a JJAEP-related duty is considered present for purposes of
calculating the ratio.
(4) Supervision Staff Members.
(A) The JJAEP must ensure an adequate number of supervision
staff members are present during all operational hours.
(B) Supervision staff members include drill instructors,
educational aides, security personnel, juvenile supervision officers,
juvenile probation officers, community activities officers, and behavior
management staff.
(C) Any staff member, excluding a certified physical
education teacher, who participates in the administration of intensive
physical activity must be a:
(i) juvenile supervision officer;
(ii) juvenile probation officer; or
Cont'd... |
