REVIEW OF PLACEMENT IN ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAM

(a) At the end of the first semester of a student's placement in an alternative education program under Section 37.304 or 37.305, the school district board of trustees shall convene a committee to review the student's placement in the alternative education program. The committee must be composed of: (1) a classroom teacher from the campus to which the student would be assigned were the student not placed in an alternative education program; (2) the student's parole or probation officer or, in the case of a student who does not have a parole or probation officer, a representative of the local juvenile probation department; (3) an instructor from the alternative education program to which the student is assigned; (4) a school district designee selected by the board of trustees; and (5) a school counselor employed by the school district. (b) The committee by majority vote shall determine and recommend to the school district board of trustees whether the student should be returned to the regular classroom or remain in the alternative education program. (c) If the committee recommends that the student be returned to the regular classroom, the board of trustees shall return the student to the regular classroom unless the board determines that the student's presence in the regular classroom: (1) threatens the safety of other students or teachers; (2) will be detrimental to the educational process; or (3) is not in the best interests of the district's students. (d) If the committee recommends that the student remain in the alternative education program, the board of trustees shall continue the student's placement in the alternative education program unless the board determines that the student's presence in the regular classroom: (1) does not threaten the safety of other students or teachers; (2) will not be detrimental to the educational process; and (3) is not contrary to the best interests of the district's students. (e) If, after receiving a recommendation under Subsection (b), the school district board of trustees determines that the student should remain in an alternative education program, the board shall before the beginning of each school year convene the committee described by Subsection (a) to review, in the manner provided by Subsections (b), (c), and (d), the student's placement in an alternative education program.