Texas 2017 - 85th Regular

Texas House Bill HB1323 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	85R3484 SRS-F
2	2	By: Frank H.B. No. 1323
3	3
4	4
5	5	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
6	6	AN ACT
7	7	relating to equal opportunity for access by home-schooled students
8	8	to University Interscholastic League sponsored activities;
9	9	authorizing a fee.
10	10	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
11	11	SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 33, Education Code, is
12	12	amended by adding Section 33.0832 to read as follows:
13	13	Sec. 33.0832. EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR HOME-SCHOOLED STUDENTS
14	14	TO PARTICIPATE IN UNIVERSITY INTERSCHOLASTIC LEAGUE ACTIVITIES.
15	15	(a) In this section, "home-schooled student" has the meaning
16	16	assigned by Section 29.916.
17	17	(b) Except as provided by Subsection (g), a public school
18	18	that participates in an activity sponsored by the University
19	19	Interscholastic League shall provide a home-schooled student, who
20	20	otherwise meets league eligibility standards to represent that
21	21	school in a league activity, with the opportunity to participate in
22	22	the activity on behalf of the school in the same manner that the
23	23	school provides the opportunity to participate to students enrolled
24	24	in the school.
25	25	(c) A home-schooled student who seeks to participate or who
26	26	participates in a league activity on behalf of a school is subject
27	27	to the following relevant policies that apply to students enrolled
28	28	in the school: policies regarding registration, age eligibility,
29	29	fees, insurance, transportation, physical condition,
30	30	qualifications, responsibilities, event schedules, standards of
31	31	behavior, and performance.
32	32	(d) The parent or person standing in parental relation to a
33	33	home-schooled student is responsible for oversight of academic
34	34	standards relating to the student's participation in a league
35	35	activity. As a condition of eligibility to participate in a league
36	36	activity during the first six weeks of a school year, a
37	37	home-schooled student must demonstrate grade-level academic
38	38	proficiency on any nationally recognized, norm-referenced
39	39	assessment instrument, such as the Iowa Test of Basic Skills,
40	40	Stanford Achievement Test, California Achievement Test, or
41	41	Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills. A home-schooled student
42	42	demonstrates the required academic proficiency by achieving a
43	43	composite, core, or survey score that is within the average or
44	44	higher than average range of scores, as established by the
45	45	applicable testing service. For purposes of this subsection, a
46	46	school district shall accept assessment results administered or
47	47	reported by a third party.
48	48	(e) A home-schooled student's demonstration of academic
49	49	proficiency under Subsection (d) is sufficient for purposes of that
50	50	subsection for the school year in which the student achieves the
51	51	required score and the subsequent school year.
52	52	(f) After the first six weeks of a school year, the parent or
53	53	person standing in parental relation to a home-schooled student
54	54	participating in a league activity on behalf of a public school must
55	55	periodically, in accordance with the school's grading calendar,
56	56	provide written verification to the school indicating that the
57	57	student is receiving a passing grade in each course or subject being
58	58	taught.
59	59	(g) A home-schooled student is not authorized by this
60	60	section to participate in a league activity during the remainder of
61	61	any school year during which the student was previously enrolled in
62	62	a public school.
63	63	(h) The University Interscholastic League may not prohibit
64	64	a home-schooled student from participating in league activities in
65	65	the manner authorized by this section.
66	66	(i) With respect to a home-schooled student's education
67	67	program, nothing in this section shall be construed to permit an
68	68	agency of this state, a public school district, or any other
69	69	governmental body to exercise control, regulatory authority, or
70	70	supervision over a home-schooled student or a parent or person
71	71	standing in parental relation to a home-schooled student beyond the
72	72	control, regulatory authority, or supervision required to
73	73	participate in a league activity.
74	74	(j) Subject only to eligibility requirements under this
75	75	section for a home-schooled student to participate in a league
76	76	activity:
77	77	(1) the curriculum or assessment requirements,
78	78	performance standards, practices, or creed of the education program
79	79	provided to a home-schooled student may not be required to be
80	80	changed in order for the home-schooled student to participate in a
81	81	league activity; and
82	82	(2) for a home-schooled student participating in an
83	83	education program on January 1, 2017, the education program
84	84	provided to that student may not be required to comply with any
85	85	state law or agency rule relating to that education program unless
86	86	the law or rule was in effect on January 1, 2017.
87	87	SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2017-2018
88	88	school year.
89	89	SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
90	90	a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
91	91	provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
92	92	Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
93	93	Act takes effect September 1, 2017.