BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center	S.B. 746
87R811 TSS-D	By: Miles
	Education
	4/8/2021
	As Filed

 

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Due to the ongoing pandemic, many schools have been unable to keep track of every student, leading to a major loss of students throughout districts all across the state. Reports show that up to 75 percent of public school districts across the state saw a decrease in enrollment during the 2020-2021 school year. Attendance and enrollment affects the amount of funding each school receives, and when students are uncounted for, public schools are unable to provide accurate information. Public schools are in need of a required line of contact with each student so no more children fall through the seams, ensuring that funding is accurately allocated to public schools.

 

S.B. 746 will require that student contact information for every student be provided by their parent(s) or legal guardian(s) no later than two weeks after the start of the new school year or day of enrollment. The contact information provided will come in written form and include students' address, phone number, and e-mail address. If the contact information changes during the school year, the information must be updated within two weeks of the initial change.

 

As proposed, S.B. 746 amends current law relating to requiring the parent of a student enrolled in a school district to provide and update a student's contact information.

 

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 Chapter 26, Education Code, by adding Section 26.0125, as follows:

 

Sec. 26.0125.� STUDENT CONTACT INFORMATION REQUIRED.� Requires the parent of a student enrolled in a school district to provide in writing to the district:

 

(1) on enrollment of the student in the district and not later than two weeks after the beginning of each school year, the student's address, phone number, and e-mail address; and

 

(2) if the student's contact information changes during the school year, not later than two weeks after the date the information changes, the student's updated information.

 

SECTION 2. Provides that this Act applies beginning with the 2021-2022 school year.

 

SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2021.