Texas 2017 - 85th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB640 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1		-	By: Taylor of Collin S.B. No. 640
2		-	(In the Senate - Filed January 27, 2017; February 13, 2017,
3		-	read first time and referred to Committee on Education;
4		-	April 12, 2017, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 8,
5		-	Nays 2; April 12, 2017, sent to printer.)
6		-	Click here to see the committee vote
	1	+	By: Taylor of Collin, et al. S.B. No. 640
7	2
8	3
9	4		A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
10	5		AN ACT
11	6		relating to equal opportunity for access by home-schooled students
12	7		to University Interscholastic League sponsored activities;
13	8		authorizing a fee.
14	9		BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
15	10		SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 33, Education Code, is
16	11		amended by adding Section 33.0832 to read as follows:
17	12		Sec. 33.0832. EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR HOME-SCHOOLED STUDENTS
18	13		TO PARTICIPATE IN UNIVERSITY INTERSCHOLASTIC LEAGUE ACTIVITIES.
19	14		(a) In this section, "home-schooled student" has the meaning
20	15		assigned by Section 29.916.
21	16		(b) Except as provided by Subsection (g), a public school
22	17		that participates in an activity sponsored by the University
23	18		Interscholastic League shall provide a home-schooled student, who
24	19		otherwise meets league eligibility standards to represent that
25	20		school in a league activity, with the opportunity to participate in
26	21		the activity on behalf of the school in the same manner that the
27	22		school provides the opportunity to participate to students enrolled
28	23		in the school.
29	24		(c) A home-schooled student who seeks to participate or who
30	25		participates in a league activity on behalf of a school is subject
31	26		to the following relevant policies that apply to students enrolled
32	27		in the school: policies regarding registration, age eligibility,
33	28		fees, insurance, transportation, physical condition,
34	29		qualifications, responsibilities, event schedules, standards of
35	30		behavior, and performance.
36	31		(d) The parent or person standing in parental relation to a
37	32		home-schooled student is responsible for oversight of academic
38	33		standards relating to the student's participation in a league
39	34		activity. As a condition of eligibility to participate in a league
40	35		activity during the first six weeks of a school year, a
41	36		home-schooled student must demonstrate grade-level academic
42	37		proficiency on any nationally recognized, norm-referenced
43	38		assessment instrument, such as the Iowa Test of Basic Skills,
44	39		Stanford Achievement Test, California Achievement Test, or
45	40		Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills. A home-schooled student
46	41		demonstrates the required academic proficiency by achieving a
47	42		composite, core, or survey score that is within the average or
48	43		higher than average range of scores, as established by the
49	44		applicable testing service. For purposes of this subsection, a
50	45		school district shall accept assessment results administered or
51	46		reported by a third party.
52	47		(e) A home-schooled student's demonstration of academic
53	48		proficiency under Subsection (d) is sufficient for purposes of that
54	49		subsection for the school year in which the student achieves the
55	50		required score and the subsequent school year.
56	51		(f) After the first six weeks of a school year, the parent or
57	52		person standing in parental relation to a home-schooled student
58	53		participating in a league activity on behalf of a public school must
59	54		periodically, in accordance with the school's grading calendar,
60	55		provide written verification to the school indicating that the
61	56		student is receiving a passing grade in each course or subject being
62	57		taught.
63	58		(g) A home-schooled student is not authorized by this
64	59		section to participate in a league activity during the remainder of
65	60		any school year during which the student was previously enrolled in
66	61		a public school.
67	62		(h) The University Interscholastic League may not prohibit
68	63		a home-schooled student from participating in league activities in
69	64		the manner authorized by this section.
70	65		(i) With respect to a home-schooled student's education
71	66		program, nothing in this section shall be construed to permit an
72	67		agency of this state, a public school district, or any other
73	68		governmental body to exercise control, regulatory authority, or
74	69		supervision over a home-schooled student or a parent or person
75	70		standing in parental relation to a home-schooled student beyond the
76	71		control, regulatory authority, or supervision required to
77	72		participate in a league activity.
78	73		(j) Subject only to eligibility requirements under this
79	74		section, for a home-schooled student to participate in a league
80	75		activity:
81	76		(1) the curriculum or assessment requirements,
82	77		performance standards, practices, or creed of the education program
83	78		provided to a home-schooled student may not be required to be
84	79		changed in order for the home-schooled student to participate in a
85	80		league activity; and
86	81		(2) for a home-schooled student participating in an
87	82		education program on January 1, 2017, the education program
88	83		provided to that student may not be required to comply with any
89	84		state law or agency rule relating to that education program unless
90	85		the law or rule was in effect on January 1, 2017.
91	86		SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2017-2018
92	87		school year.
93	88		SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
94	89		a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
95	90		provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
96	91		Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
97	92		Act takes effect September 1, 2017.
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