By: Huffines, Campbell S.B. No. 610
(In the Senate - Filed January 25, 2017; February 13, 2017,
read first time and referred to Committee on Education;
April 24, 2017, reported adversely, with favorable Committee
Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 8, Nays 3; April 24, 2017,
sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 610 By: Huffines
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the state virtual school network.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 30A.101(c), Education Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(c) A nonprofit entity, private entity, or corporation is
eligible to act as a course provider under this chapter only if the
nonprofit entity, private entity, or corporation:
(1) complies with all applicable federal and state
laws prohibiting discrimination;
(2) demonstrates financial solvency; and
(3) provides evidence of prior successful experience
offering online courses to kindergarten or elementary, middle, or
high school students, with demonstrated student success in course
completion and performance, as determined by the commissioner.
SECTION 2. Section 30A.104(a), Education Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(a) A course offered through the state virtual school
network must:
(1) be in a specific subject that is part of the
required curriculum under Section 28.002(a);
(2) be aligned with the essential knowledge and skills
identified under Section 28.002(c) for a grade level at or above
kindergarten [grade level three]; and
(3) be the equivalent in instructional rigor and scope
to a course that is provided in a traditional classroom setting
during:
(A) a semester of 90 instructional days; and
(B) a school day that meets the minimum length of
a school day required under Section 25.082.
SECTION 3. Section 30A.151(f), Education Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(f) For a full-time electronic course program offered
through the state virtual school network for a grade level at or
above kindergarten [grade level three] but not above grade level
eight, a school district or open-enrollment charter school is
entitled to receive federal, state, and local funding for a student
enrolled in the program in an amount equal to the funding the
district or school would otherwise receive for a student enrolled
in the district or school. The district or school may calculate the
average daily attendance of a student enrolled in the program based
on:
(1) hours of contact with the student;
(2) the student's successful completion of a course;
or
(3) a method approved by the commissioner.
SECTION 4. This Act applies beginning with the 2017-2018
school year.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect only if a specific
appropriation for the implementation of the Act is provided in a
general appropriations act of the 85th Legislature.
SECTION 6. 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, 2017.
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