By: Paxton S.B. No. 2244
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the state virtual school network and a study on digital
learning.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 26.0031(c), Education Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(c) A school district or open-enrollment charter school may
deny a request to enroll a student in an electronic course if:
(1) a student attempts to enroll in a course load that
is inconsistent with the student's high school graduation plan or
requirements for college admission or earning an industry
certification; or
(2) the student requests permission to enroll in an
electronic course at a time that is not consistent with the
enrollment period established by the school district or
open-enrollment charter school providing the course[; or
[(3) the district or school offers a substantially
similar course].
SECTION 2. Section 30A.153(a), Education Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(a) A [Subject to the limitation imposed under Subsection
(a-1), a] school district or open-enrollment charter school in
which a student is enrolled is entitled to funding under Chapter 42
or in accordance with the terms of a charter granted under Section
12.101 for the student's enrollment in an electronic course offered
through the state virtual school network in the same manner that the
district or school is entitled to funding for the student's
enrollment in courses provided in a traditional classroom setting,
provided that the student successfully completes the electronic
course.
SECTION 3. Section 30A.155(a), Education Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(a) A school district or open-enrollment charter school may
charge a fee for enrollment in an electronic course provided
through the state virtual school network to a student who resides in
this state and[:
[(1)] is enrolled in a school district or
open-enrollment charter school as a full-time student with a course
load greater than that normally taken by students in the equivalent
grade level in other school districts or open-enrollment charter
schools[; or
[(2) elects to enroll in an electronic course provided
through the network for which the school district or
open-enrollment charter school in which the student is enrolled as
a full-time student declines to pay the cost, as authorized by
Section 26.0031(c-1)].
SECTION 4. Sections 26.0031(c-1) and 30A.153(a-1),
Education Code, are repealed.
SECTION 5. (a) The Texas Education Agency shall conduct a
study regarding the effectiveness of digital learning in public
schools. The study must include:
(1) methods of providing digital learning to students
in kindergarten through 12th grade; and
(2) recommendations regarding the establishment of
partnerships between school districts or open-enrollment charter
schools and institutions of higher education and other public and
private entities to provide digital learning options.
(b) Not later than September 1, 2020, the Texas Education
Agency shall submit to the commissioner of education and each
legislative standing committee with primary jurisdiction over
public education a report that includes:
(1) the results of the study conducted under this
section; and
(2) recommendations to improve digital learning,
including virtual learning under Chapter 30A, Education Code.
(c) Based on the results of the study and the report
prepared under this section, the commissioner of education shall
establish procedures to increase:
(1) digital learning by students and participation in
the virtual school network; and
(2) participation by school districts and
open-enrollment charter schools in establishing partnerships with
institutions of higher education and other public and private
entities.
(d) This section expires January 1, 2021.
SECTION 6. The Texas Education Agency is required to
implement a provision of this Act only if the legislature
appropriates money specifically for that purpose. If the
legislature does not appropriate money specifically for that
purpose, the agency may, but is not required to, implement a
provision of this Act using other appropriations available for that
purpose.
SECTION 7. This Act applies beginning with the 2019-2020
school year.
SECTION 8. 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, 2019.