Texas House Bill HB1423

Texas 2009 - 81st Regular

• Out of House Committee: 4/6/09
• Voted on by House: 4/30/09
• Out of Senate Committee: 5/15/09
• Voted on by Senate: 5/25/09
• Governor Action: 6/19/09
• Enrolled: 5/30/09
• Passed: 6/19/09

Caption

Relating to granting charters to public junior colleges for open-enrollment charter schools.

Impact

The implications of HB 1423 are significant as it marks a progressive shift toward integrating higher education resources with K-12 education through the establishment of charter schools. By granting charters directly to public junior colleges, the bill allows these educational entities to directly influence the development of local educational initiatives. This could potentially lead to improved student outcomes, especially if the schools focus on specific goals such as dropout recovery or enhancing educational attainment. The bill's execution hinges on the ability of these institutions to meet defined frameworks and standards set forth by the State Board of Education.

Summary

House Bill 1423 seeks to amend the Education Code of Texas by enabling public junior colleges and senior colleges or universities to grant charters for open-enrollment charter schools. This legislation aims to provide greater flexibility in the educational landscape by allowing these institutions to establish charter schools that can operate in conjunction with their existing programs. The bill stipulates that the educational programs of these charter schools must incorporate innovative teaching methods, thereby enhancing the overall quality of education accessible to students.

Contention

One of the notable points of contention surrounding HB 1423 is the criteria for granting such charters. The requirement that educational programs be supervised by qualified faculty members with relevant experience may raise questions about the capacity of junior colleges to effectively operate these charter schools. Moreover, concerns may arise regarding the allocation of funding and resources, particularly whether this new framework could divert essential resources away from traditional public schools. Critics might argue that charter schools can sometimes lead to inequities in the educational system by prioritizing certain demographics or students over others.