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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the state virtual school network and a study on digital |
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learning. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 26.0031(c), Education Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(c) A school district or open-enrollment charter school may |
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deny a request to enroll a student in an electronic course if: |
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(1) a student attempts to enroll in a course load |
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that is inconsistent with the student's high school graduation |
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plan or requirements for college admission or earning an industry |
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certification; or |
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(2) the student requests permission to enroll in an |
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electronic course at a time that is not consistent with the |
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enrollment period established by the school district or |
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open-enrollment charter school providing the course [; or
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[(3)
the district or school offers a substantially
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similar course]. |
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SECTION 2. Section 30A.153(a), Education Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(a) A [Subject to the limitation imposed under Subsection
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(a-1), a] school district or open-enrollment charter school in |
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which a student is enrolled is entitled to funding under Chapter 42 |
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or in accordance with the terms of a charter granted under Section |
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12.101 for the student's enrollment in an electronic course offered |
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through the state virtual school network in the same manner that the |
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district or school is entitled to funding for the student's |
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enrollment in courses provided in a traditional classroom setting, |
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provided that the student successfully completes the electronic |
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course. |
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SECTION 3. Section 30A.155(a), Education Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(a) A school district or open-enrollment charter school may |
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charge a fee for enrollment in an electronic course provided |
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through the state virtual school network to a student who resides in |
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this state and[:
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[(1)] is enrolled in a school district or |
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open-enrollment charter school as a full-time student with a course |
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load greater than that normally taken by students in the equivalent |
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grade level in other school districts or open-enrollment charter |
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schools[; or
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[(2)
elects to enroll in an electronic course provided
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through the network for which the school district or
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open-enrollment charter school in which the student is enrolled as
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a full-time student declines to pay the cost, as authorized by
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Section 26.0031(c-1)]. |
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SECTION 4. Sections 26.0031(c-1) and 30A.153(a-1), |
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Education Code, are repealed. |
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SECTION 5. (a) The Texas Education Agency shall conduct a |
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study regarding the effectiveness of digital learning in public |
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schools. The study must include: |
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(1) methods of providing digital learning to students |
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in kindergarten through 12th grade; and |
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(2) recommendations regarding the establishment of |
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partnerships between school districts or open-enrollment charter |
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schools and institutions of higher education and other public and |
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private entities to provide digital learning options. |
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(b) Not later than September 1, 2018, the Texas Education |
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Agency shall submit to the commissioner of education and each |
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legislative standing committee with primary jurisdiction over |
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public education a report that includes: |
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(1) the results of the study conducted under this |
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section; and |
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(2) recommendations to improve digital learning, |
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including virtual learning under Chapter 30A, Education Code. |
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(c) Based on the results of the study and the report |
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prepared under this section, the commissioner of education shall |
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establish procedures to increase: |
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(1) digital learning by students and participation in |
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the virtual school network; and |
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(2) participation by school districts and |
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open-enrollment charter schools in establishing partnerships with |
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institutions of higher education and other public and private |
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entities. |
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(d) This section expires January 1, 2019. |
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SECTION 6. This Act applies beginning with the 2017-2018 |
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school year. |
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SECTION 7. 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. |