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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to online learning programs offered by a school district |
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or open-enrollment charter school to students enrolled at a campus |
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of the district or school. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 29, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 29.9091 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 29.9091. ONLINE LEARNING PROGRAMS. (a) In this |
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section, "electronic course" has the meaning assigned by Section |
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30A.001. |
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(b) A school district or open-enrollment charter school may |
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establish an online learning program to offer electronic courses |
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that satisfy the curriculum requirements under Section 28.002 to |
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students enrolled in any grade level from kindergarten through |
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grade 12 at a campus of the district or school. |
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(c) The board of trustees of a school district or the |
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governing body of an open-enrollment charter school that operates |
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an online learning program under this section may establish |
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eligibility criteria for students to enroll in electronic courses |
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offered through the program. In establishing criteria, a board of |
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trustees or governing body may limit student enrollment in |
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electronic courses to encourage instruction in a traditional |
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classroom setting. For eligible students, the board of trustees or |
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governing body may: |
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(1) limit the number of electronic courses in which |
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the student may enroll; or |
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(2) allow students to enroll full-time in the online |
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learning program. |
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(d) A school district or open-enrollment charter school |
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that operates a program under this section is entitled to funding |
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under Chapter 48 or in accordance with the terms of a charter |
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granted under Section 12.101 for the student's enrollment in an |
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electronic course offered through the program in the same manner |
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the district or school is entitled to funding for the student's |
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enrollment in courses provided in a traditional classroom setting, |
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provided the student successfully completes the electronic course. |
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(e) A school district or open-enrollment charter school may |
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calculate the average daily attendance of a student enrolled in the |
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program based on: |
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(1) hours of contact with the student; |
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(2) the student's successful completion of a course; |
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or |
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(3) a method approved by the commissioner. |
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SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2021-2022 |
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school year. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |