89R5105 RAL-F     By: West, Miles S.B. No. 2561       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the establishment of the student success initiative   program by the Texas Education Agency and the award of grants under   that program.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter Z, Chapter 29, Education Code, is   amended by adding Section 29.935 to read as follows:          Sec. 29.935.  STUDENT SUCCESS INITIATIVE PROGRAM; GRANTS.   (a) The agency, in collaboration with qualified experts in the   areas of child and youth mental health and education, shall develop   a student success initiative program based on evidence-based best   practices to:                (1)  support youth well-being and educational   outcomes; and                (2)  increase the number of students performing at   grade level by providing academic, community, and governmental   supports.          (b)  From money appropriated or otherwise available for the   purpose, the commissioner shall provide technical assistance and   award grants to school districts and open-enrollment charter   schools that implement the program developed under Subsection (a).          (c)  In awarding grants under Subsection (b), the   commissioner shall:                (1)  award 75 percent of the amount available during   each school year to school districts that serve a population of   100,000 students or more; and                (2)  prioritize school districts and open-enrollment   charter schools with high percentages of students who:                      (A)  do not perform satisfactorily on assessment   instruments administered under Section 39.023; or                      (B)  are educationally disadvantaged.          (d)  The commissioner may use not more than 10 percent of the   money appropriated for purposes of this section to cover the cost of   administering this section.          (e)  The agency shall annually submit to the legislature a   report on the impact of the student success initiative program and   best practices learned from the program.          (f)  The commissioner shall adopt rules as necessary to   implement this section, including rules establishing:                (1)  application criteria for receipt of a grant under   this section; and                (2)  allowable uses of grant money by a school district   or open-enrollment charter school under this section, which must   include supports for students such as tutoring, mentoring, and   other educational opportunities outside of the district or school.          SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.