AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Interested parties note that calculation of average daily attendance for regular program students is different from the calculation of average daily attendance for students enrolled in a flexible school day program, who are better served by the scheduling flexibility the program allows. The parties further note that this difference in calculation, and the effect on school district funding under the Foundation School Program, restricts schools in their ability to offer a flexible schedule for students who wish to participate in internships, dual enrollment courses, or outside work. H.B. 2660 seeks to address this issue and help to adequately prepare students for life beyond high school.
H.B. 2660 amends current law relating to Foundation School Program funding for students enrolled in an optional flexible school day program.
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 Section 29.0822, Education Code, by amending Subsection (d) and adding Subsection (d-1), as follows:
(d) Requires the commissioner of education (commissioner), subject to Subsection (d-1), to calculate average daily attendance for students served under this section.
(d-1) Requires the commissioner, in calculating average daily attendance for students served under this section, to ensure that funding for attendance in a course in a program under this section is based on the same instructional hour requirements of the regular program rather than a full-time equivalent student basis that requires six hours of student contact time to qualify for a full day of attendance.
SECTION 2. Amends Section 42.005(a), Education Code, to provide that, in this chapter, average daily attendance is, for a district that operates under a flexible school day program under Section 29.0822, the average daily attendance as calculated by the commissioner in accordance with Sections 29.0822(d) and (d-1).
SECTION 3. Provides that this Act applies beginning with the 2015-2016 school year.
SECTION 4. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2015.