By:  Keffer of Dallas                                             H.B. No. 2877



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to public education.                                                 
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Chapter 42, Education Code, is amended as 
follows:               
	Sec. 42.001.  STATE POLICY.  (a)  It is the policy of this 
state that the provision of public education is a state 
responsibility and that a thorough and efficient system be provided 
and financed through state and local revenue sources.
	(b)  In providing revenue to ensure that each student 
enrolled in the public school system has access to appropriate 
programs and services required by this section, the public school 
finance system of this state shall adhere to a standard of 
neutrality that provides for substantially equal access to similar 
revenue per student at similar tax effort, considering all state 
and local tax revenues of districts after acknowledging all 
legitimate student and district cost differences.  This subsection 
may not be construed as prohibiting a school district from 
providing enhanced educational programs and services using local 
revenue.
	(c)  For purposes of fulfilling the state's responsibility 
for the provision of public education under Section 1, Article VII, 
Texas Constitution:
		(1)  "General diffusion of knowledge" means the result 
of an educational system that makes available, free of tuition, the 
curriculum required by the legislature to persons entitled to 
attend public school under general law.
		(2)  "Suitable provision for the support and 
maintenance of an efficient system of public free schools" means 
that the legislature:
			(A)  ensures that an educational system is 
available to all school-age residents of Texas;
			(B)  identifies the resources necessary for the 
delivery of the required curriculum in Section 28.002;
			(C)  ensures that funding is available to provide 
the resources described by Paragraph (B);
			(D)  ensures that funding described by Paragraph 
(C) is provided in a manner that affords the greatest possible 
flexibility to school districts in use of funds; and
			(E)  ensures that funding for instructional 
materials is provided through the available school fund.
		(3)  "Efficient system of public free schools" means a 
system in which:
			(A)  accountability provisions, based primarily 
on performance standards that measure student academic achievement 
and ensure that funds provided for the required curriculum are used 
in a manner that meets the performance indicators in Section 
39.0261 and Section 39.051 in the Education Code; and
			(B)  in addition to the level of revenue required 
to be raised for suitable provision, school districts are permitted 
to raise additional local revenue to provide enhanced local 
educational programs and services, without a requirement that the 
state ensure that total local funding is substantially equal 
throughout the state.
	Sec. 42.002.  PURPOSES OF FOUNDATION SCHOOL PROGRAM  (a)  The 
purposes of the Foundation School Program set forth in this chapter 
are to guarantee that each school district in the state has:
		(1)  adequate resources to provide each eligible 
student an accredited instructional program and facilities 
suitable to the student's educational needs; and
		(2)  access to substantially equalized financing for an 
enriched program.
	(b)  The Foundation School Program consists of:                         
		(1)  two tiers that in combination provide for:                        
			(A)  financing for all school districts in 
accordance with Section 42.001; and
			(B)  substantially equal access to funds to 
provide an enriched program; and
		(2)  a facilities component as provided by Chapter 46.