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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to equal opportunity for access by home-schooled students |
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to University Interscholastic League sponsored activities; |
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authorizing a fee. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 33, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 33.0832 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 33.0832. EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR HOME-SCHOOLED STUDENTS |
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TO PARTICIPATE IN UNIVERSITY INTERSCHOLASTIC LEAGUE ACTIVITIES. |
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(a) In this section, "home-schooled student" has the meaning |
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assigned by Section 29.916. |
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(b) Except as provided by Subsection (g), a public school |
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that participates in an activity sponsored by the University |
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Interscholastic League shall provide a home-schooled student, who |
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otherwise meets league eligibility standards to represent that |
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school in a league activity, with the opportunity to participate in |
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the activity on behalf of the school in the same manner that the |
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school provides the opportunity to participate to students enrolled |
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in the school. |
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(c) A home-schooled student who seeks to participate or |
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participates in a league activity on behalf of a school is subject |
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to the following relevant policies that apply to students enrolled |
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in the school: policies regarding registration, age eligibility, |
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fees, insurance, transportation, physical condition, |
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qualifications, responsibilities, event schedules, standards of |
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behavior, and performance. |
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(d) The parent or person standing in parental relation to a |
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home-schooled student is responsible for oversight of academic |
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standards relating to the student's participation in a league |
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activity. As a condition of eligibility to participate in a league |
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activity during the first six weeks of a school year, a |
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home-schooled student must demonstrate grade-level academic |
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proficiency on any nationally recognized, norm-referenced |
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assessment instrument, such as the Iowa Test of Basic Skills, |
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Stanford Achievement Test, California Achievement Test, or |
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Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills. A home-schooled student |
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demonstrates the required academic proficiency by achieving a |
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composite, core, or survey score that is within the average or |
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higher than average range of scores, as established by the |
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applicable testing service. For purposes of this subsection, a |
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school district shall accept assessment results administered or |
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reported by a third party. |
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(e) A home-schooled student's demonstration of academic |
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proficiency under Subsection (d) is sufficient for purposes of that |
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subsection for the school year in which the student achieves the |
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required score and the subsequent school year. |
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(f) After the first six weeks of a school year, the parent or |
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person standing in parental relation to a home-schooled student |
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participating in a league activity on behalf of a public school must |
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periodically, in accordance with the school's grading calendar, |
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provide written verification to the school indicating that the |
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student is receiving a passing grade in each course or subject being |
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taught. |
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(g) A home-schooled student is not authorized by this |
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section to participate in a league activity during the remainder of |
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any school year during which the student was previously enrolled in |
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a public school. |
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(h) The University Interscholastic League may not prohibit |
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a home-schooled student from participating in league activities in |
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the manner authorized by this section. |
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(i) With respect to a home-schooled student's education |
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program, nothing in this section shall be construed to permit an |
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agency of this state, a public school district, or any other |
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governmental body to exercise control, regulatory authority, or |
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supervision over a home-schooled student or a parent or person |
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standing in parental relation to a home-schooled student beyond the |
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control, regulatory authority, or supervision required to |
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participate in a league activity. |
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(j) Subject only to eligibility requirements under this |
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section for a home-schooled student to participate in a league |
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activity: |
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(1) the curriculum or assessment requirements, |
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performance standards, practices, or creed of the education program |
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provided to a home-schooled student may not be required to be |
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changed in order for the home-schooled student to participate in a |
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league activity; and |
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(2) for a home-schooled student participating in an |
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education program on January 1, 2019, the education program |
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provided to that student may not be required to comply with any |
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state law or agency rule relating to that education program unless |
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the law or rule was in effect on January 1, 2019. |
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SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2019-2020 |
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school year. |
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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, 2019. |