Bill Text: TX SB2244 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Engrossed
Bill Title: Relating to the state virtual school network and a study on digital learning.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2019-04-29 - Referred to Public Education [SB2244 Detail]
Download: Texas-2019-SB2244-Engrossed.html
By: Paxton | S.B. No. 2244 |
|
||
|
||
relating to the state virtual school network and a study on digital | ||
learning. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Section 26.0031(c), Education Code, is amended | ||
to read as follows: | ||
(c) A school district or open-enrollment charter school may | ||
deny a request to enroll a student in an electronic course if: | ||
(1) a student attempts to enroll in a course load that | ||
is inconsistent with the student's high school graduation plan or | ||
requirements for college admission or earning an industry | ||
certification; or | ||
(2) the student requests permission to enroll in an | ||
electronic course at a time that is not consistent with the | ||
enrollment period established by the school district or | ||
open-enrollment charter school providing the course[ |
||
[ |
||
|
||
SECTION 2. Section 30A.153(a), Education Code, is amended | ||
to read as follows: | ||
(a) A [ |
||
|
||
which a student is enrolled is entitled to funding under Chapter 42 | ||
or in accordance with the terms of a charter granted under Section | ||
12.101 for the student's enrollment in an electronic course offered | ||
through the state virtual school network in the same manner that the | ||
district or school is entitled to funding for the student's | ||
enrollment in courses provided in a traditional classroom setting, | ||
provided that the student successfully completes the electronic | ||
course. | ||
SECTION 3. Section 30A.155(a), Education Code, is amended | ||
to read as follows: | ||
(a) A school district or open-enrollment charter school may | ||
charge a fee for enrollment in an electronic course provided | ||
through the state virtual school network to a student who resides in | ||
this state and[ |
||
[ |
||
open-enrollment charter school as a full-time student with a course | ||
load greater than that normally taken by students in the equivalent | ||
grade level in other school districts or open-enrollment charter | ||
schools[ |
||
[ |
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
SECTION 4. Sections 26.0031(c-1) and 30A.153(a-1), | ||
Education Code, are repealed. | ||
SECTION 5. (a) The Texas Education Agency shall conduct a | ||
study regarding the effectiveness of digital learning in public | ||
schools. The study must include: | ||
(1) methods of providing digital learning to students | ||
in kindergarten through 12th grade; and | ||
(2) recommendations regarding the establishment of | ||
partnerships between school districts or open-enrollment charter | ||
schools and institutions of higher education and other public and | ||
private entities to provide digital learning options. | ||
(b) Not later than September 1, 2020, the Texas Education | ||
Agency shall submit to the commissioner of education and each | ||
legislative standing committee with primary jurisdiction over | ||
public education a report that includes: | ||
(1) the results of the study conducted under this | ||
section; and | ||
(2) recommendations to improve digital learning, | ||
including virtual learning under Chapter 30A, Education Code. | ||
(c) Based on the results of the study and the report | ||
prepared under this section, the commissioner of education shall | ||
establish procedures to increase: | ||
(1) digital learning by students and participation in | ||
the virtual school network; and | ||
(2) participation by school districts and | ||
open-enrollment charter schools in establishing partnerships with | ||
institutions of higher education and other public and private | ||
entities. | ||
(d) This section expires January 1, 2021. | ||
SECTION 6. The Texas Education Agency is required to | ||
implement a provision of this Act only if the legislature | ||
appropriates money specifically for that purpose. If the | ||
legislature does not appropriate money specifically for that | ||
purpose, the agency may, but is not required to, implement a | ||
provision of this Act using other appropriations available for that | ||
purpose. | ||
SECTION 7. This Act applies beginning with the 2019-2020 | ||
school year. | ||
SECTION 8. 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. |