Bill Text: TX HB3941 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to online adult high school diploma programs.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-05-02 - Committee report sent to Calendars [HB3941 Detail]
Download: Texas-2019-HB3941-Introduced.html
| 86R14280 MP-F | ||
| By: Deshotel | H.B. No. 3941 | |
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| relating to online adult high school diploma programs. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 29, Education Code, is | ||
| amended by adding Section 29.0871 to read as follows: | ||
| Sec. 29.0871. ONLINE ADULT HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA PROGRAMS. | ||
| (a) The agency shall develop a process by which an eligible | ||
| provider may apply to the commissioner for authority to operate an | ||
| online adult high school diploma program for eligible students to | ||
| obtain a high school diploma. An eligible provider must be | ||
| accredited by a research-based, nationally recognized, and | ||
| universally accessible accreditation system approved by the | ||
| commissioner. | ||
| (b) Any eligible provider may apply for authorization to | ||
| operate an online adult high school diploma program under this | ||
| section. As part of the application process, the commissioner shall | ||
| require an eligible provider to provide information regarding the | ||
| operation of any similar program during the preceding five years. | ||
| (c) A student is eligible to participate in an online adult | ||
| high school diploma program authorized under this section if the | ||
| student: | ||
| (1) resides in this state; | ||
| (2) is 19 years of age or older; | ||
| (3) was unable to satisfy the high school graduation | ||
| requirements in place at the time the student would have normally | ||
| graduated from high school; | ||
| (4) is unable to satisfy the high school graduation | ||
| requirements of any other program offered under this title; and | ||
| (5) meets any other requirements as determined by the | ||
| commissioner. | ||
| (d) A student participating in an online adult high school | ||
| diploma program authorized under this section must have taken the | ||
| appropriate end-of-course assessment instruments specified by | ||
| Section 39.023(c) before entering the program and must take each | ||
| appropriate end-of-course assessment instrument administered | ||
| during the period in which the student is enrolled in the program. | ||
| (e) A student enrolled in an online adult high school | ||
| diploma program authorized under this section may not participate | ||
| in a competition or other activity sanctioned or conducted by the | ||
| University Interscholastic League. | ||
| (f) A student who enrolls in an online adult high school | ||
| diploma program authorized under this section is entitled to the | ||
| benefits of the Foundation School Program under Section 42.003 in | ||
| the same manner as any other student who has not received a high | ||
| school diploma. | ||
| (g) For purposes of funding under Chapters 41, 42, and 46, a | ||
| student attending an online adult high school diploma program | ||
| authorized under this section may be counted in attendance only for | ||
| the actual number of hours each school day the student attends the | ||
| program, in accordance with Section 25.081. | ||
| (h) The commissioner may revoke a provider's authorization | ||
| to operate an online adult high school diploma program under this | ||
| section after consideration of relevant factors, including student | ||
| performance on assessment instruments required under Chapter 39, | ||
| the percentage of students who complete the program and earn a high | ||
| school diploma, and other criteria adopted by the commissioner. A | ||
| decision by the commissioner under this subsection is final and may | ||
| not be appealed. | ||
| (i) The commissioner may adopt rules to implement this | ||
| section. | ||
| SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date | ||
| of this Act, the commissioner of education shall adopt rules | ||
| necessary to implement Section 29.0871, Education Code, as added by | ||
| this Act. | ||
| SECTION 3. 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, 2019. | ||
