BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 308
81R1489 EAH-D By: Patrick, Dan
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
In 1995, Texas passed legislation regarding charter schools in order to provide more innovative learning environments and options within the public education system. The popularity of charter schools has increased significantly, from an enrollment of approximately 2,500 students in the 1996-1997 school year to 113,760 students in the 2007-2008 school year. There are another 17,000 students waiting for entrance into a charter school. Currently, the State Board of Education is prohibited from granting more than 215 charters for an open-enrollment charter school, which was reached in the fall of 2008.
As proposed, S.B. 308 eliminates the cap on open-enrollment charter schools in order to meet the high demand for charter schools in Texas.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 12.101(b), Education Code, to delete existing text prohibiting the State Board of Education from granting a total of more than 215 charters for an open-enrollment charter school.
SECTION 2. Repealer: 12.156(b) (relating to a charter not being considered for purposes of the limit on the number of open-enrollment charter schools), Education Code.
SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2009.