Enrolled Bill Summary

Senate Bill 1452	Senate Author:  Lucio
Effective:  6-17-05	House Sponsor:  Oliveira

            Senate Bill 1452 amends the Education Code to establish the Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science at The University of Texas at Brownsville to provide academically gifted junior and senior high school students who have an interest in and potential to excel in  those fields with a challenging university-level curriculum that allows them to complete high school graduation requirements while earning academic credits at a public university.  The bill establishes a maximum 30:1 student-teacher ratio for all regular academic classes at the academy, requires all academic classes to be taught by university faculty members, and allows academy students to attend college courses at the university for college credit.

            The bill establishes funding for the academy through per-pupil allotments from the Foundation School Program as if the academy were a school district without a tier one local share, and it also allows The University of Texas System board of regents to use any available money, enter into contracts, and accept grants, including matching grants, federal grants, or corporate grants or other private contributions, to establish and operate the academy.

            With certain exceptions, the bill exempts the academy from other Education Code provisions and Texas Education Agency rules regulating public schools.