84R1925 KJE-D
By: Guillen H.B. No. 228
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the optional flexible school day program provided by
school districts.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Sections 29.0822(a), (b), and (d), Education
Code, are amended to read as follows:
(a) Notwithstanding Section 25.081 or 25.082, a school
district may [apply to the commissioner to] provide a flexible
school day program for [students who]:
(1) students who have dropped out of school or are at
risk of dropping out of school as defined by Section 29.081;
(2) students who attend a campus that is implementing
an innovative redesign of the campus or an early college high school
under a plan approved by the commissioner; [or]
(3) students who, as a result of attendance
requirements under Section 25.092, will be denied credit for one or
more classes in which the students have been enrolled; or
(4) a campus or campuses that would benefit from the
program.
(b) To enable a school district to provide a program under
this section that meets the needs of students described by
Subsection (a), a school district [that meets application
requirements] may:
(1) provide flexibility in the number of hours each
day a student attends;
(2) provide flexibility in the number of days each
week a student attends; or
(3) allow a student to enroll in less than or more than
a full course load.
(d) The commissioner may adopt rules for the administration
of this section[, including rules establishing application
requirements]. The commissioner shall calculate average daily
attendance for students served under this section. The
commissioner shall allow accumulations of hours of instruction for
students whose schedule would not otherwise allow full state
funding. Funding under this subsection shall be determined based
on the number of instructional days in the school district calendar
and a seven-hour school day, but attendance may be cumulated over a
school year, including any summer or vacation session. The
attendance of students who accumulate less than the number of
attendance hours required under this subsection shall be
proportionately reduced for funding purposes. The commissioner
may:
(1) set maximum funding amounts for an individual
course under this section; and
(2) limit funding for the attendance of a student
described by Subsection (a)(3) in a course under this section to
funding only for the attendance necessary for the student to earn
class credit that, as a result of attendance requirements under
Section 25.092, the student would not otherwise be able to receive
without retaking the class.
SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2015-2016
school year.
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, 2015.