88R1432 CXP-D
By: Jetton H.B. No. 1678
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a local remote learning program offered by a public
school for certain students at risk of dropping out of 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 29.9092 to read as follows:
Sec. 29.9092. LOCAL REMOTE LEARNING PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS AT
RISK OF DROPPING OUT OF SCHOOL. (a) A school district or
open-enrollment charter school may operate a local remote learning
program to offer virtual courses outside the state virtual school
network under Chapter 30A to eligible students at risk of dropping
out of school.
(b) A virtual course offered under the local remote learning
program must:
(1) be provided through asynchronous instruction; and
(2) provide for at least the same number of
instructional hours as required for a course offered in a program
that meets the required minimum number of minutes of operation
under Section 25.081.
(c) A student is eligible to enroll in a virtual course
offered under a local remote learning program if:
(1) the student is:
(A) enrolled at the high school level at a school
district or open-enrollment charter school; and
(B) a student at risk of dropping out of school,
as defined by Section 29.081; and
(2) the district or school at which the student is
enrolled determines under Subsection (d)(2) that participation in
the program is suitable for the student.
(d) A school district or open-enrollment charter school
that operates a local remote learning program shall develop a
process to:
(1) identify students who are potentially eligible to
enroll in a virtual course offered under the program; and
(2) screen students identified under Subdivision (1)
to ensure that participation in the program is suitable for the
student based on the student's academic needs and access to
necessary technology.
(e) A school district or open-enrollment charter school
may, but is not required to, provide technological equipment to
students who enroll in a virtual course offered under a local remote
learning program operated under this section.
(f) A student enrolled in a virtual course offered under a
local remote learning program operated under this section shall be
counted toward the school district's or open-enrollment charter
school's average daily attendance in the same manner as other
district or school students. The commissioner shall adopt rules
providing for a method of taking attendance, once each school day,
for students enrolled in a virtual course offered under a local
remote learning program operated under this section.
(g) Chapter 30A does not apply to a virtual course offered
under a local remote learning program operated under this section.
(h) This section does not prohibit a student enrolled in a
school district or open-enrollment charter school that operates a
local remote learning program under this section from enrolling in
courses offered through the state virtual school network under
Chapter 30A.
SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2023-2024
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, 2023.