Honorable Dan Patrick, Lieutenant Governor, Senate
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB496 by Watson (Relating to Foundation School Program funding for students enrolled in an optional flexible school day program.), As Passed 2nd House
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would require the Commissioner of Education to calculate average daily attendance for students in an optional flexible school day program using the two-hour and four-hour requirements that currently apply to the calculation of half and full-day regular program attendance in place of the current full-time-equivalent basis of six hours of contact time for a full day of attendance. This provision would enable optional flexible day programs to earn a full day of attendance for 240 minutes of instruction rather than the 360 minutes of instruction required to earn a full day of attendance under the existing calculation.
The bill would allow the use of compensatory education allotment funding to provide assistance with child care or associated transportation costs to students who are participating in a life skills program or who are at risk of dropping out of school.
The bill would require the Commissioner of Education to include a leaver code of pregnancy in the Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS).
The bill would expand eligibility for the Optional Flexible School Day Program (OFSDP) by permitting school districts to provide an OFSDP for a campus or campuses that would benefit from the program. The bill would eliminate the required application to participate in the OFSDP.
The Texas Education Agency indicates the bill would not significantly affect state cost under the Foundation School Program. The agency indicates a minimal cost to update leaver codes in the PEIMS system.
Local Government Impact
School districts would be allowed to earn full day attendance for students in optional flexible day programs based on 240 minutes of instruction rather than 360 minutes of instruction. School districts could experience some cost associated with modifying local flexible attendance data collection and reporting systems.
School districts would have the option to expend compensatory education allotment funding on child-care services or associated transportation costs for certain students.
School districts would be required to report a new leaver code for students who left school because of pregnancy.