84R7740 KJE-F
By: Burkett H.B. No. 2415
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to open-enrollment charter schools that provide only
prekindergarten programs.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 12, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 12.1015 to read as follows:
Sec. 12.1015. AUTHORIZATION FOR GRANT OF CHARTERS FOR
SCHOOLS PROVIDING ONLY PREKINDERGARTEN PROGRAMS. (a) The
commissioner may grant under Section 12.101 a charter on the
application of an eligible entity for an open-enrollment charter
school intended to provide only prekindergarten programs.
(b) A charter application for an open-enrollment charter
school described by Subsection (a) may not be denied, and the
charter of an open-enrollment charter school described by
Subsection (a) may not be revoked or denied renewal, on the basis
that the school does not provide instruction to students at any
grade level at which students are assessed under Subchapter B,
Chapter 39.
(c) The limit on the number of charters for open-enrollment
charter schools imposed by Section 12.101 does not apply to a
charter granted under this section.
(d) For purposes of the applicability of state and federal
law, an open-enrollment charter school described by Subsection (a)
is considered the same as any other school for which a charter is
granted under Section 12.101.
(e) The commissioner shall adopt rules as necessary to
administer this section.
SECTION 2. Section 12.118(b), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(b) An evaluation under this section must include
consideration of the following items before implementing the
charter and after implementing the charter:
(1) if applicable, students' scores on assessment
instruments administered under Subchapter B, Chapter 39;
(2) student attendance;
(3) students' grades;
(4) incidents involving student discipline;
(5) socioeconomic data on students' families;
(6) parents' satisfaction with their children's
schools; and
(7) students' satisfaction with their schools.
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.