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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to open-enrollment charter schools that provide only |
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prekindergarten programs. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 12, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 12.1015 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 12.1015. AUTHORIZATION FOR GRANT OF CHARTERS FOR |
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SCHOOLS PROVIDING ONLY PREKINDERGARTEN PROGRAMS. (a) The |
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commissioner may grant under Section 12.101 a charter on the |
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application of an eligible entity for an open-enrollment charter |
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school intended to provide only prekindergarten programs. |
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(b) A charter application for an open-enrollment charter |
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school described by Subsection (a) may not be denied, and the |
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charter of an open-enrollment charter school described by |
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Subsection (a) may not be revoked or denied renewal, on the basis |
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that the school does not provide instruction to students at any |
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grade level at which students are assessed under Subchapter B, |
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Chapter 39. |
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(c) The limit on the number of charters for open-enrollment |
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charter schools imposed by Section 12.101 does not apply to a |
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charter granted under this section. |
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(d) For purposes of the applicability of state and federal |
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law, an open-enrollment charter school described by Subsection (a) |
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is considered the same as any other school for which a charter is |
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granted under Section 12.101. |
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(e) The commissioner shall adopt rules as necessary to |
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administer this section. |
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SECTION 2. Section 12.118(b), Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(b) An evaluation under this section must include |
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consideration of the following items before implementing the |
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charter and after implementing the charter: |
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(1) if applicable, students' scores on assessment |
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instruments administered under Subchapter B, Chapter 39; |
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(2) student attendance; |
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(3) students' grades; |
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(4) incidents involving student discipline; |
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(5) socioeconomic data on students' families; |
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(6) parents' satisfaction with their children's |
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schools; and |
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(7) students' satisfaction with their schools. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |