BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 348

By: Kolkhorst

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, many Texas public school districts have shifted class instruction to virtual or remote learning, requiring parents to have access to online instructional content. While Texas parents are currently entitled by state law to have access to teaching materials used in their child's education, it has been noted that there is a need to specifically account for online instruction in this entitlement. S.B. 348 seeks to address this issue by entitling a parent to observe virtual instruction and to review teaching materials and aids while the parent's child is participating in virtual or remote learning.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

S.B. 348 amends the Education Code to entitle a parent to observe virtual instruction while the parent's child is participating in virtual or remote learning to the same extent the parent would be entitled to observe in-person instruction of the child. The bill specifies that a parent's entitlement to review all teaching materials, instructional materials, and other teaching aids used in the child's classroom includes review of those materials and aids while the child is participating in virtual or remote learning.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2021.