BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center H.B. 2864
80R10205 KKA-D By: Chisum (Shapiro)
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
In some rural areas students lack access to upper level courses that are vital for them to develop aspirations for obtaining a higher education.
H.B. 2864 establishes a pilot program for rural districts to make technology-based supplemental instruction to students at the sixth through 12th grade levels at participating campuses. This would provide students access to upper level courses in core subject areas.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the commissioner of education in SECTION 1 (Section 29.919, Education Code) of this bill.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter Z, Chapter 29, Education Code, by adding Section 29.919, as follows:
Sec. 29.919. TECHNOLOGY-BASED SUPPLEMENTAL INSTRUCTION PILOT PROGRAM. (a) Requires the commissioner of education (commissioner) to establish a pilot program (program) under which state grant funds are provided to finance technology-based supplemental instruction to students at the sixth through 12th grade levels at participating campuses.
(b) Sets forth the eligibility requirements for a campus to participate in the program and receive state grant funds.
(c) Requires the commissioner to develop an application and selection process for selecting campuses to participate in the program. Requires the commissioner to give priority to a campus that offers a relatively limited course selection to students, in comparison to the course selections generally offered to students in metropolitan areas.
(d) Entitles a campus selected to participate in the program to receive state grant funds in an amount not to exceed $200 each school year for each student in an eligible grade level served through the program. Requires the state grant funds to be used to provide technology-based supplemental instruction for students at the eligible grade levels. Provides that certain incurred costs are considered permissible expenditures under the program.
(e) Requires a campus, as a condition of receiving a state grant, to contribute additional funding for activities provided at the campus through the program, in an amount equal to at least $100 each school year for each student in an eligible grade level served through the program. Authorizes the additional funding required by this subsection to consist of local funds, private funds, or state funds other than grant funds provided under this section. Authorized the high school allotment provide under Section 42.2516(b)(3) to be used for program activities provided at the high school level, to meet the additional funding requirements prescribed by this subsection.
(f) Requires a campus participating in the program to make instructional support services available to students outside of regular school hours for at least 10 hours each week.
(g) Requires the commissioner to pay the costs of the program using funds available for that purpose, not to exceed $4 million each fiscal year or a greater amount specified by the General Appropriations Act.
(h) Requires the commissioner, using funds available for the program in an amount not to exceed $150,000 each fiscal year, to contract for an evaluation of the program's effectiveness in improving student performance. Requires the commissioner to deliver, not later than December 1, 2008, an interim report containing the results of the evaluation. Requires the commissioner to deliver a final report, not later than December 1, 2010, regarding the program to the legislature.
(i) Requires the commissioner to adopt rules necessary to implement this section.
(j) Provides that this section expires September 1, 2011.
SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2007.