SRC-MKV S.B. 975 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 975
77R8402 BDH-DBy: Shapleigh
Education
3/26/2001
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, the traditional classroom instruction model is used by the
majority of K-12 educational systems in Texas.  Technological advances have
made other teaching paradigms possible.  As proposed, S.B. 975 directs the
commissioner of education to oversee a pilot "electronic courses" program
and to provide assessment of the program before December, 2002.  The
commissioner is given the responsibility of selecting school districts with
a higher than average number of at-risk students or a higher than average
dropout rate.  Participating districts will continue to receive local and
state funding for each student participating in an electronic course,
providing potential  revenue savings that may be diverted to finance
computers and other resources. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a
state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Chapter 29Z, Education Code, by adding Section 29.903,
as follows: 

 Sec. 29.903.  ELECTRONIC COURSES.  (a) Defines "electronic course."

(b)  Requires the commissioner of education (commissioner) to implement a
program under which a school district is authorized to offer an electronic
course to students enrolled in the district or to students enrolled in
another district, as provided by an agreement between the districts.
Prohibits a district from requiring a student to enroll in an electronic
course. 
  
(c)  Requires the commissioner to select school districts to participate in
the program based on applications submitted by the districts.  Prohibits
the commissioner from requiring a district to participate in the program.
Authorizes the commissioner to determine the number of districts permitted
to participate in the program, provided that the commissioner shall, to the
extent possible, permit the participation of rural and urban districts with
a higher than average number of at-risk students, as determined by the
commissioner, or dropout rate. 

(d)  Requires a school district seeking to participate in the program to
submit a written application to the commissioner not later than January 1
preceding the school year the district proposes to participate in the
program, or an earlier date set by the commissioner.  Requires the
application to include certain information. 

(e)  Authorizes the commissioner to waive any requirement, restriction, or
prohibition imposed by this code relating to the computation of daily
attendance to the extent necessary to implement a program under this
section. 

 (f)  Authorizes the commissioner to cooperate with the comptroller, the
Department of Information Resources, or any other state agency or
commission in adopting technical standards for auditing or verifying
student attendance in an electronic course. 

(g) Requires the commissioner, not later than December 1, 2002, to submit a
report to the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house of
representatives.  Requires the report to include certain information. 

  (h)  Provides that this section expires September 1, 2003.

SECTION 2.  Requires the commissioner of education, not later than May 1,
2002, to implement the program required by Section 29.903, Education Code,
as added by this Act. 

SECTION 3.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2001.