BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 496

By: Watson

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

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. S.B. 496 seeks to address this issue and help to adequately prepare students for life beyond high school.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

S.B. 496 amends the Education Code to require the commissioner of education, in calculating the average daily attendance for students served by an optional flexible school day program, to ensure that funding for attendance in a course under such a program 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. The bill applies beginning with the 2015–2016 school year.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2015.