89R8744 AND-F

By: Leo Wilson H.B. No. 2410

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to granting charters to certain public and private institutions of higher education for open-enrollment charter schools.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. The heading to Subchapter E, Chapter 12, Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER E. PUBLIC OR PRIVATE INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION

[COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY OR JUNIOR COLLEGE] CHARTER SCHOOL

SECTION 2. Section 12.151, Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 12.151. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter, "institution of higher education" and "private or independent institution of higher education" ["public junior college" and "public senior college or university"] have the meanings assigned by Section 61.003.

SECTION 3. Section 12.152(a), Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) In accordance with this subchapter and Subchapter D, the commissioner may grant a charter on the application of:

(1) an institution of higher education [a public senior college or university] for an open-enrollment charter school to operate on the campus of the institution of higher education [public senior college or university] or, subject to Subsection (b), at another location in any county in this state; or

(2) a private or independent institution of higher education [public junior college] for an open-enrollment charter school to operate on the campus of the private or independent institution of higher education [public junior college] or in the same county in which the campus of the private or independent institution of higher education [public junior college] is located.

SECTION 4. Section 12.154(a), Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) Notwithstanding Section 12.110(d), the commissioner may grant a charter under this subchapter to an institution of higher education or a private or independent institution of higher education [a public senior college or university] only if the following criteria are satisfied in the institution's [public senior college's or university's] application, as determined by the commissioner:

(1) the [college or university] charter school's educational program must include innovative teaching methods;

(2) the [college or university] charter school's educational program must be implemented under the direct supervision of a member of the teaching or research faculty of the institution of higher education or the private or independent institution of higher education [public senior college or university];

(3) the faculty member supervising the [college or university] charter school's educational program must have substantial experience and expertise in education research, teacher education, classroom instruction, or educational administration;

(4) the [college or university] charter school's educational program must be designed to meet specific goals described in the charter, including improving student performance or dropout recovery, and each aspect of the program must be directed toward the attainment of the goals;

(5) the attainment of the [college or university] charter school's educational program goals must be measured using specific, objective standards set forth in the charter, including assessment methods and a time frame; and

(6) the financial operations of the [college or university] charter school must be supervised by the business office of the institution of higher education or the private or independent institution of higher education [public senior college or university].

SECTION 5. Section 12.155, Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 12.155. SCHOOL NAME. The name of a [college or university] charter school operated by an institution of higher education or a private or independent institution of higher education under this subchapter [junior college charter school] must include the name of the institution [public senior college or university or public junior college, as applicable, operating the school].

SECTION 6. Section 12.156(a), Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) Except as otherwise provided by this subchapter, Subchapter D applies to a [college or university] charter school operated by an institution of higher education or private or independent institution of higher education under this subchapter [or junior college charter school] as though the [college or university] charter school [or junior college charter school, as applicable,] were granted a charter under that subchapter.

SECTION 7. Section 12.154(b), Education Code, is repealed.

SECTION 8. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to an application for a charter filed on or after the effective date of this Act. An application for a charter filed before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the application was filed, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.

SECTION 9. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2025.