By Lucio                                              S.B. No. 1506
         77R8764 ESH-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to compliance with the minimum number of days of
 1-3     instruction required of public schools.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 28, Education Code, is
 1-6     amended by adding Section 25.0841 to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 25.0841.  EXTENDED-DAY SYSTEM. (a)  A school district
 1-8     may operate some or all of its schools on an extended-day system.
 1-9     As to each district school operating on an extended-day system, the
1-10     district is entitled to a credit of one day towards the minimum
1-11     number of days of instruction under Section 25.081 for every seven
1-12     hours of instruction in excess of the minimum school day under
1-13     Section 25.082, regardless of the length of the school day the
1-14     district provides.
1-15           (b)  If a school district adopts an extended-day system, the
1-16     district may modify:
1-17                 (1)  the number of contract days of employees,
1-18     including any time required for staff development, planning and
1-19     preparation, and continuing education, otherwise required by law;
1-20     and
1-21                 (2)  testing dates, data reporting, and related
1-22     matters.
1-23           (c)  The operation of schools on an extended-day system does
1-24     not affect the amount of state funds to which the district is
 2-1     entitled under Chapter 42.  The commissioner shall adopt rules for
 2-2     the computation of average daily attendance under Section 42.005
 2-3     for a school district that operates on an extended-day system.
 2-4           SECTION 2. Section 21.401, Education Code, is amended by
 2-5     adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:
 2-6           (d)  A school district that operates one or more schools on
 2-7     an extended-day system under Section 25.0841 may reduce the number
 2-8     of days of service required under Subsection (b) of an educator
 2-9     serving at a school operating on that system to a number that is
2-10     not less than seven days more than the number of days of
2-11     instruction.  A reduction under this subsection does not reduce an
2-12     educator's salary.
2-13           SECTION 3. Section 25.081(a), Education Code, is amended to
2-14     read as follows:
2-15           (a)  Except as authorized under Subsection (b) of this
2-16     section, [or] Section 25.084, or Section 25.0841, for each school
2-17     year each school district must operate so that the district
2-18     provides for at least 180 days of instruction for students.
2-19           SECTION 4. Section 25.0841, Education Code, as added by this
2-20     Act, applies beginning with the 2001-2002 school year.
2-21           SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
2-22     a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
2-23     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
2-24     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
2-25     Act takes effect September 1, 2001.