By: Parker H.B. No. 3265
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to online learning programs offered by a school district
or open-enrollment charter school to students enrolled at a campus
of the district or school.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 29, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 29.9091 to read as follows:
Sec. 29.9091. ONLINE LEARNING PROGRAMS. (a) In this
section, "electronic course" has the meaning assigned by Section
30A.001.
(b) A school district or open-enrollment charter school may
establish an online learning program to offer electronic courses
that satisfy the curriculum requirements under Section 28.002 to
students enrolled in any grade level from kindergarten through
grade 12 at a campus of the district or school.
(c) The board of trustees of a school district or the
governing body of an open-enrollment charter school that operates
an online learning program under this section may establish
eligibility criteria for students to enroll in electronic courses
offered through the program. In establishing criteria, a board of
trustees or governing body may limit student enrollment in
electronic courses to encourage instruction in a traditional
classroom setting. For eligible students, the board of trustees or
governing body may:
(1) limit the number of electronic courses in which
the student may enroll; or
(2) allow students to enroll full-time in the online
learning program.
(d) A school district or open-enrollment charter school
that operates a program under this section is entitled to funding
under Chapter 48 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 program in the same manner
the district or school is entitled to funding for the student's
enrollment in courses provided in a traditional classroom setting,
provided the student successfully completes the electronic course.
(e) A school district or open-enrollment charter 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 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2021-2022
school year.
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, 2021.