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.
§ 19.0021. SPECIAL PURPOSE REVIEW.
Text of section effective until September 1, 2005
(a) As part of its review of the Texas Education Agency for
the 79th Legislature, the Sunset Advisory Commission shall conduct
a special purpose review of the Windham School District.
(b) To assist the Sunset Advisory Commission in its review,
the Texas Education Agency shall:
(1) conduct a limited scope review of the structure,
management, and operations of the Windham School District; and
(2) report the results of the review to the commission
before March 1, 2004.
(c) The Texas Education Agency shall consult the Sunset
Advisory Commission regarding the scope of the review to minimize
the cost of the review.
(d) After considering the report of the Texas Education
Agency, the Sunset Advisory Commission shall include in the
commission's report to the 79th Legislature, Regular Session, 2005,
any recommendations relating to the Windham School District that
the commission considers appropriate.
(e) This section expires September 1, 2005.
Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1112, § 1.02, eff. Sept. 1,
2003.
§ 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 and vocational training
programs specifically designed for persons eligible under Section
19.005; 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.
§ 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 Department of Economic Development, 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 may coordinate vocational education and
job training programs with a local workforce development board
authorized by the Texas Workforce Investment Council.
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.
