2005 Texas Education Code CHAPTER 19. SCHOOLS IN THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE

EDUCATION CODE

CHAPTER 19. SCHOOLS IN THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE


	§ 19.001. DEFINITIONS.  In this chapter:                                    
		(1)  "Board" means the Texas Board of Criminal Justice.                       
		(2)  "Department" means the Texas Department of 
Criminal Justice.           

Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 260, § 1, eff. May 30, 1995.            


	§ 19.002. ESTABLISHMENT.  The school district 
established by the Texas Board of Corrections in 1969 shall be known 
as the Windham School District, an entity that is separate and 
distinct from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.  The 
district may establish and operate schools at the various 
facilities of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 260, § 1, eff. May 30, 1995.            


	§ 19.003. GOALS OF THE DISTRICT.  The goals of the 
district in educating its students are to:
		(1)  reduce recidivism;                                                       
		(2)  reduce the cost of confinement or imprisonment;                          
		(3)  increase the success of former inmates in 
obtaining and maintaining employment;  and
		(4)  provide an incentive to inmates to behave in 
positive ways during confinement or imprisonment.

Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 260, § 1, eff. May 30, 1995.            


	§ 19.004. GOVERNANCE, LIMITATION ON POWERS, AND 
DUTIES.  (a) The district shall be governed as provided by this 
chapter and policies established by the board.  Unless otherwise 
specifically provided, a provision of this code applying to school 
districts does not apply to the district.
	(b)  The district may not impose a tax.                                        
	(c)  The district shall:                                                       
		(1)  develop educational programs specifically 
designed for persons eligible under Section 19.005 and ensure that 
those programs, such as GED and ESL, are integrated with an applied 
vocational context leading to employment;
		(1-a)  develop vocational training programs 
specifically designed for persons eligible under Section 19.005 and 
prioritize the programs that result in certification or licensure, 
considering the impact that a previous felony conviction has on the 
ability to secure certification, licensure, and employment;  and
		(2)  coordinate educational programs and services in 
the department with those provided by other state agencies, by 
political subdivisions, and by persons who provide programs and 
services under contract.

Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 260, § 1, eff. May 30, 1995.  
Amended by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., ch. 1142, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 
2005.


	§ 19.0041. EVALUATION OF TRAINING SERVICES.  (a) To 
evaluate the effectiveness of training services provided to persons 
confined or imprisoned in the department, the Windham School 
District shall consult with the Legislative Budget Board to compile 
and analyze information for each person who receives the training 
services.  This information shall include an evaluation of:
		(1)  the kind of training services provided;                                  
		(2)  the kind of employment the person obtains on 
release;                  
		(3)  whether the employment was related to training;                          
		(4)  the difference between the amount of the person's 
earnings on the date employment is obtained following release and 
the amount of those earnings on the first anniversary of that date;  
and
		(5)  the retention factors associated with the 
employment.                  
	(b)  The Legislative Budget Board shall submit an annual 
report to the legislature and the governor's office based on data 
compiled and analyzed under Subsection (a).

Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., ch. 1142, § 2, eff. Sept. 1, 2005.          


	§ 19.005. ELIGIBILITY FOR CERTAIN PROGRAMS AND 
SERVICES.  (a) Any person confined or imprisoned in the department 
who is not a high school graduate is eligible for programs or 
services under this chapter paid for with money from the foundation 
school fund.  To the extent space is available, the district may 
also offer programs or services under this chapter paid for with 
money from the foundation school fund to persons confined or 
imprisoned in the department who are high school graduates.
	(b)  Eligibility under this chapter does not make a person 
eligible for a program or service under any other chapter.

Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 260, § 1, eff. May 30, 1995.  
Amended by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1188, § 1.51, eff. Sept. 1, 
1999.


	§ 19.006. GRANTS AND FEDERAL FUNDS.  (a) The district may 
accept a grant from a public or private organization and may spend 
those funds to operate district programs and provide district 
services.
	(b)  The district may accept federal funds and shall use 
those funds in compliance with applicable federal law, regulations, 
and guidelines.

Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 260, § 1, eff. May 30, 1995.            


	§ 19.007. COSTS TO BE BORNE BY STATE.  (a) Except as 
authorized by Section 19.006 and this section, the state shall pay 
the cost of operating the district.
	(b)  The costs for persons eligible under Section 19.005 
shall be paid from the foundation school fund. 
	(c)  In addition to money from the foundation school fund, 
the district may receive appropriated money from the department for 
educational programs.
	(d)  The operating costs of the district may not be charged 
to another school district.
	(e)  The district may participate in the textbook program 
under Chapter 31.  

Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 260, § 1, eff. May 30, 1995.  
Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1071, § 2, eff. Sept. 1, 
1997.


	§ 19.008. ALLOCATION OF COSTS.  (a) The commissioner 
shall allocate funds to the district from the foundation school 
fund based on an amount, established in the General Appropriations 
Act, for each contact hour between a teacher and a person eligible 
under Section 19.005, including associated administrative costs, 
for the best 180 of 210 school days in each year of the state fiscal 
biennium.  Those funds may be spent only for district 
administrative costs related to education and for district 
educational programs and services and only with the approval of the 
board.
	(b)  The agency by rule shall establish a time and manner for 
the district to report and verify contact hours to the agency.

Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 260, § 1, eff. May 30, 1995.            


	§ 19.009. DISTRICT EMPLOYEES.  (a) District employees are 
not considered employees of the state except as provided for in this 
section.  The board may establish personnel policies as necessary 
to ensure the effective and efficient operation of the district.
	(b)  Each employee of the district shall serve 220 or 226 
days each year, based on position, as determined by the board.
	(c)  A district employee required under Subchapter B, 
Chapter 21,  to hold a certificate must be certified in accordance 
with that subchapter.
	(d)  Each employee shall be paid according to a salary 
schedule approved by the board.  The schedule may allow for salary 
differentiation that provides for salaries at a Windham School 
District school site to be commensurate with educator salaries in 
school districts contiguous to that school site.
	(e)  Each employee of the district who qualifies for 
membership in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas shall be 
covered under the system to the same extent a qualified employee of 
any other district is covered.
	(f)  The state minimum personal leave program under Section 
22.003 applies to a district employee in the same manner as that 
program applies to an employee of any other school district.
	(g)  The employees of the district are eligible for workers' 
compensation benefits under Chapter 501, Labor Code, and for group 
benefits under Chapter 1551, Insurance Code.

Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 260, § 1, eff. May 30, 1995.  
Amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1276, § 10A.510, eff. Sept. 
1, 2003.


	§ 19.010. STRATEGIC PLAN AND ANNUAL REPORT.  (a) The 
district shall propose, and the board shall adopt with any 
modification the board finds necessary, a strategic plan that 
includes:
		(1)  a mission statement relating to the goals and 
duties of the district under this chapter;
		(2)  goals to be met by the district in carrying out the 
mission stated;  and
		(3)  specific educational, vocational training, and 
counseling programs to be conducted by the district to meet the 
goals stated in the plan.
	(b)  The district shall prepare a report for each fiscal year 
documenting district activities under the strategic plan.  Not 
later than January 31 of each year, the district shall file the 
report for the preceding fiscal year with the board, the governor, 
the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of 
representatives, and the agency.

Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 260, § 1, eff. May 30, 1995.            


	§ 19.011. COORDINATION WITH OTHER STATE AGENCIES.  (a) In 
order to achieve the goals stated in Section 19.003, the district 
with the cooperation of the Health and Human Services Commission, 
the Texas Workforce Investment Council, the Texas Workforce 
Commission, the Texas Economic Development and Tourism Office, and 
the department shall provide persons confined or imprisoned in the 
department:
		(1)  information from local workforce and development 
boards on job training and employment referral services;  and
		(2)  information on the tax refund voucher program 
under Subchapter H, Chapter 301, Labor Code.
	(b)  The district shall coordinate vocational education and 
job training programs with a local workforce development board 
authorized by the Texas Workforce Commission to ensure that 
district students are equipped with the skills necessary to compete 
for current and emerging jobs.

Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 260, § 1, eff. May 30, 1995.  
Amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 818, § 6.01, eff. Sept. 1, 
2003;  Acts 2005, 79th Leg., ch. 1142, § 3, eff. Sept. 1, 2005.