BILL ANALYSIS
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Senate Research Center |
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AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
In 2013, the legislature passed S.B. 1142, which established the adult high school diploma and industry certification charter school pilot program for adults 19 to 50 years of age.
In 2007, the legislature amended statute to separate older, non-traditional students from traditional students under 18 years of age. Under Section 25.001(b-2) of the Texas Education Code, if a student has not attended school in the three prior school years, the student may not be placed with a student who is 18 years of age or younger in a classroom setting, cafeteria, or other district-sanctioned school activity. However, the student may attend a school-sponsored event that is open to the public.
S.B. 2062 amends the Education Code to state that an entity granted a charter to operate both an adult education program and a dropout recovery school serving students 17 and older may place students—regardless of age—in the same facility and in the same classroom setting or learning environment, same cafeteria, or same school-sanctioned activity or program.
As proposed, S.B. 2062 amends current law relating to authorizing certain charter holders to provide combined services for certain adult and high school dropout recovery programs.
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 Subchapter D, Chapter 12, Education Code, by adding Section 12.137, as follows:
Sec. 12.137. CERTAIN CHARTER HOLDERS AUTHORIZED TO PROVIDE COMBINED SERVICES FOR CERTAIN ADULT AND HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUT RECOVERY PROGRAMS. (a) Provides that this section applies only to:
(1) an open-enrollment charter school designated as a dropout recovery school as described by Section 12.1141(c) (requiring the commissioner of education to use the discretionary consideration process under certain circumstances) if the enrollment of the school consists only of students 17 years of age and older; and
(2) an adult education program provided under a high school diploma and industry certification charter school pilot program under Section 29.259 (Adult High School Diploma and Industry Certification Charter School Pilot Program).
(b) Authorizes an entity granted a charter to operate a charter school described by Subsection (a)(1) and a charter to provide an adult education program described by Subsection (a)(2), notwithstanding any other law, to, for the purpose of providing services to students enrolled in the charter school and the adult education program, place students, regardless of the age of the students, at the same facility and in the same classroom setting or learning environment, the same cafeteria, or the same activity sanctioned by the school and the program.
SECTION 2. Provides that this Act applies beginning with the 2015-2016 school year.
SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2015.