S.B. No. 1517
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to an exemption for students enrolled in certain advanced
  courses from the requirement that a student be suspended from
  participation in extracurricular activities for receiving an
  unsatisfactory grade.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 33.081, Education Code, is amended by
  amending Subsections (c) and (d) and adding Subsection (d-1) to
  read as follows:
         (c)  A student who is enrolled in a school district in this
  state or who participates in a University Interscholastic League
  competition shall be suspended from participation in any
  extracurricular activity sponsored or sanctioned by the school
  district or the University Interscholastic League after a grade
  evaluation period in which the student received a grade lower than
  the equivalent of 70 on a scale of 100 in any academic class other
  than a course described by Subsection (d-1) [an identified honors
  or advanced class]. A suspension continues for at least three
  school weeks and is not removed during the school year until the
  conditions of Subsection (d) are met. A suspension does not last
  beyond the end of a school year. For purposes of this subsection,
  "grade evaluation period" means:
               (1)  the six-week grade reporting period; or
               (2)  the first six weeks of a semester and each grade
  reporting period thereafter, in the case of a district with a grade
  reporting period longer than six weeks.
         (d)  Until the suspension is removed under this subsection or
  the school year ends, a school district shall review the grades of a
  student suspended under Subsection (c) at the end of each
  three-week period following the date on which the suspension began.
  At the time of a review, the suspension is removed if the student's
  grade in each class, other than a course described by Subsection
  (d-1) [an identified honors or advanced class], is equal to or
  greater than the equivalent of 70 on a scale of 100. The principal
  and each of the student's teachers shall make the determination
  concerning the student's grades.
         (d-1)  Subsections (c) and (d) do not apply to an advanced
  placement or international baccalaureate course, or to an honors or
  dual credit course in the subject areas of English language arts,
  mathematics, science, social studies, economics, or a language
  other than English.  The agency shall review on a biennial basis
  courses described by this subsection to determine if other courses
  should be excluded from the requirement that a student be suspended
  from participation in an extracurricular activity under Subsection
  (c).  Not later than January 1 of each odd-numbered year, the agency
  shall report the findings under this subsection to the legislature.
         SECTION 2.  This Act applies beginning with the 2007-2008
  school year.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2007.
 
 
 
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1517 passed the Senate on
  April 26, 2007, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0; and that
  the Senate concurred in House amendment on May 27, 2007, by the
  following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1517 passed the House, with
  amendment, on May 23, 2007, by the following vote: Yeas 144,
  Nays 0, two present not voting.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
 
  Approved:
 
  ______________________________ 
              Date
 
 
  ______________________________ 
            Governor