1 | 1 | | 88R14343 JES-F |
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2 | 2 | | By: Dutton H.B. No. 5092 |
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3 | 3 | | |
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4 | 4 | | |
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5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
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7 | 7 | | relating to formation, funding, and support of and the |
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8 | 8 | | applicability of certain laws to charter schools. |
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9 | 9 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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10 | 10 | | SECTION 1. The heading to Section 12.052, Education Code, |
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11 | 11 | | is amended to read as follows: |
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12 | 12 | | Sec. 12.052. PETITION DRIVEN AUTHORIZATION. |
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13 | 13 | | SECTION 2. Section 12.052(a), Education Code, is amended to |
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14 | 14 | | read as follows: |
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15 | 15 | | (a) In accordance with this subchapter, the board of |
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16 | 16 | | trustees of a school district or the governing body of a home-rule |
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17 | 17 | | school district shall grant or deny, through a public vote of the |
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18 | 18 | | board of trustees or governing body, a charter to parents and |
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19 | 19 | | teachers for a campus, two or more campuses, or a program on a |
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20 | 20 | | campus if the board is presented with a petition signed by: |
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21 | 21 | | (1) the parents of a majority of the students at the |
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22 | 22 | | [that] school campus or at each campus, as applicable; and |
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23 | 23 | | (2) a majority of the classroom teachers at the [that] |
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24 | 24 | | school campus or at each campus, as applicable. |
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25 | 25 | | SECTION 3. The heading to Section 12.0521, Education Code, |
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26 | 26 | | is amended to read as follows: |
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27 | 27 | | Sec. 12.0521. DISTRICT CHARTER [ALTERNATIVE] |
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28 | 28 | | AUTHORIZATION. |
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29 | 29 | | SECTION 4. Section 12.0521, Education Code, is amended by |
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30 | 30 | | amending Subsections (a) and (b) and adding Subsections (d), (e), |
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31 | 31 | | and (f) to read as follows: |
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32 | 32 | | (a) Notwithstanding Section 12.052, in accordance with this |
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33 | 33 | | subchapter and in the manner provided by this section, the board of |
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34 | 34 | | trustees of a school district or the governing body of a home-rule |
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35 | 35 | | school district may grant a charter for: |
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36 | 36 | | (1) a new district campus; [or] |
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37 | 37 | | (2) a program that is operated: |
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38 | 38 | | (A) by an entity that has entered into a contract |
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39 | 39 | | with the district under Section 11.157 to provide educational |
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40 | 40 | | services to the district through the campus or program; and |
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41 | 41 | | (B) at a facility located in the boundaries of |
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42 | 42 | | the district; or |
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43 | 43 | | (3) an existing district campus. |
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44 | 44 | | (b) A student's parent or guardian may choose to enroll the |
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45 | 45 | | student at a campus or in a program under this section. A school |
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46 | 46 | | district may not assign a student to a campus or program under this |
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47 | 47 | | section unless the student's parent or guardian has voluntarily |
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48 | 48 | | enrolled the student at the campus or in the program. A student's |
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49 | 49 | | parent or guardian may, at any time, remove the student from a |
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50 | 50 | | campus or program under this section and enroll the student at the |
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51 | 51 | | campus to which the student would ordinarily be assigned. If the |
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52 | 52 | | campus to which the student would ordinarily be assigned is also a |
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53 | 53 | | campus operated under a charter, the student's parent or guardian |
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54 | 54 | | may enroll the student at another available campus in the district |
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55 | 55 | | that is appropriate for the student's grade and is not operated |
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56 | 56 | | under a charter. |
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57 | 57 | | (d) A district charter may be granted to a campus, |
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58 | 58 | | regardless of the performance rating under Subchapter C, Chapter |
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59 | 59 | | 39, assigned to that campus in the previous school year. |
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60 | 60 | | (e) A charter granted under this section is not considered |
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61 | 61 | | for purposes of the limit on the number of charters for |
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62 | 62 | | open-enrollment charter schools imposed by Section 12.101. |
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63 | 63 | | (f) The commissioner may adopt rules as necessary for the |
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64 | 64 | | administration of this section. |
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65 | 65 | | SECTION 5. Section 12.0531, Education Code, is amended to |
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66 | 66 | | read as follows: |
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67 | 67 | | Sec. 12.0531. PERFORMANCE CONTRACT; DURATION OF CHARTER. |
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68 | 68 | | (a) If a charter is granted under this subchapter, the board of |
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69 | 69 | | trustees of the school district that granted the charter shall |
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70 | 70 | | enter into a performance contract with the principal or equivalent |
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71 | 71 | | chief operating officer of the campus or program. The performance |
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72 | 72 | | contract must specify enhanced authority granted to the principal |
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73 | 73 | | or equivalent officer in order to achieve the academic goals that |
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74 | 74 | | must be met by campus or program students. A charter granted under |
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75 | 75 | | this subchapter expires 10 years from the date the charter is |
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76 | 76 | | granted unless the specified goals are substantially met, as |
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77 | 77 | | determined by the board of trustees of the school district that |
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78 | 78 | | granted the charter. |
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79 | 79 | | (b) A charter granted pursuant to a contract between a |
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80 | 80 | | school district and an entity granted a charter under this |
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81 | 81 | | subchapter as authorized by Section 11.174(a)(2) must be granted to |
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82 | 82 | | a school district campus for a term of not less than three years. |
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83 | 83 | | The term of the charter may be shortened by an action authorized |
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84 | 84 | | under Chapter 39A, except for the charter granted to a campus |
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85 | 85 | | against which the commissioner may not impose a sanction or take |
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86 | 86 | | action pursuant to Section 11.174(f). A charter described by this |
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87 | 87 | | subsection may be placed on probation or revoked in accordance with |
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88 | 88 | | Section 12.064. |
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89 | 89 | | SECTION 6. Section 12.056(b), Education Code, as amended by |
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90 | 90 | | Chapters 887 (S.B. 1697), 974 (S.B. 2081), and 1046 (S.B. 1365), |
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91 | 91 | | Acts of the 87th Legislature, Regular Session, 2021, is reenacted |
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92 | 92 | | and amended to read as follows: |
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93 | 93 | | (b) A campus or program for which a charter is granted under |
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94 | 94 | | this subchapter is subject to Sections 12.104(b), (b-2), and (b-3), |
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95 | 95 | | and Sections 12.104(b-1), (b-4), and (c) apply to the campus or |
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96 | 96 | | program, as if the campus or program is an open-enrollment charter |
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97 | 97 | | school [: |
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98 | 98 | | [(1) a provision of this title establishing a criminal |
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99 | 99 | | offense; and |
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100 | 100 | | [(2) a prohibition, restriction, or requirement, as |
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101 | 101 | | applicable, imposed by this title or a rule adopted under this |
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102 | 102 | | title, relating to: |
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103 | 103 | | [(A) the Public Education Information Management |
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104 | 104 | | System (PEIMS) to the extent necessary to monitor compliance with |
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105 | 105 | | this subchapter as determined by the commissioner; |
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106 | 106 | | [(B) criminal history records under Subchapter |
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107 | 107 | | C, Chapter 22; |
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108 | 108 | | [(C) high school graduation under Section |
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109 | 109 | | 28.025; |
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110 | 110 | | [(D) special education programs under Subchapter |
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111 | 111 | | A, Chapter 29; |
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112 | 112 | | [(E) bilingual education under Subchapter B, |
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113 | 113 | | Chapter 29; |
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114 | 114 | | [(F) prekindergarten programs under Subchapter |
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115 | 115 | | E, Chapter 29, except class size limits for prekindergarten classes |
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116 | 116 | | imposed under Section 25.112, which do not apply; |
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117 | 117 | | [(G) extracurricular activities under Section |
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118 | 118 | | 33.081; |
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119 | 119 | | [(H) health and safety under Chapter 38; |
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120 | 120 | | [(I) the provisions of Subchapter A, Chapter 39; |
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121 | 121 | | [(J) public school accountability and special |
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122 | 122 | | investigations under Subchapters A, B, C, D, F, and J, Chapter 39, |
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123 | 123 | | and Chapter 39A; |
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124 | 124 | | [(K) the duty to discharge or refuse to hire |
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125 | 125 | | certain employees or applicants for employment under Section |
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126 | 126 | | 12.1059; and |
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127 | 127 | | [(K) parental options to retain a student under |
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128 | 128 | | Section 28.02124]. |
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129 | 129 | | SECTION 7. Section 12.057(c), Education Code, is amended to |
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130 | 130 | | read as follows: |
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131 | 131 | | (c) A campus or program granted a charter under Section |
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132 | 132 | | 12.052 or [,] 12.0521(a)(1)[, or 12.053] is immune from liability |
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133 | 133 | | to the same extent as a school district, and its employees and |
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134 | 134 | | volunteers are immune from liability to the same extent as school |
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135 | 135 | | district employees and volunteers. |
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136 | 136 | | SECTION 8. Section 12.062, Education Code, is amended to |
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137 | 137 | | read as follows: |
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138 | 138 | | Sec. 12.062. REVISION. (a) A charter granted under Section |
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139 | 139 | | 12.052 [or 12.053] may be revised: |
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140 | 140 | | (1) with the approval of the board of trustees that |
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141 | 141 | | granted the charter; and |
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142 | 142 | | (2) on a petition signed by a majority of the parents |
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143 | 143 | | and a majority of the classroom teachers at the campus, at each |
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144 | 144 | | campus, or in the program, as applicable. |
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145 | 145 | | (b) A charter granted under Section 12.0521 may be revised |
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146 | 146 | | with the approval of the board of trustees that granted the charter, |
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147 | 147 | | and if applicable, the approval of the board of trustees or chief |
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148 | 148 | | operating officer of the partnering school district, campus, or |
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149 | 149 | | program. [A charter may be revised under this subsection only |
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150 | 150 | | before the first day of instruction of a school year or after the |
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151 | 151 | | final day of instruction of a school year.] |
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152 | 152 | | SECTION 9. Section 12.063, Education Code, is amended to |
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153 | 153 | | read as follows: |
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154 | 154 | | Sec. 12.063. BASIS FOR PLACEMENT ON PROBATION OR |
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155 | 155 | | REVOCATION. (a) A board of trustees may place on probation or |
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156 | 156 | | revoke a charter it grants if the board determines that the campus, |
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157 | 157 | | campuses, or program: |
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158 | 158 | | (1) committed a material violation of the charter, |
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159 | 159 | | including by failure to comply with the duty to discharge or refuse |
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160 | 160 | | to hire certain employees or applicants for employment, as provided |
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161 | 161 | | by Section 12.0631; |
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162 | 162 | | (2) failed to satisfy generally accepted accounting |
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163 | 163 | | standards of fiscal management; or |
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164 | 164 | | (3) failed to comply with this subchapter, another |
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165 | 165 | | law, or a state agency rule. |
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166 | 166 | | (b) The action the board takes under Subsection (a) shall be |
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167 | 167 | | based on the best interest of campus or program students, the |
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168 | 168 | | severity of the violation, and any previous violation the campus, |
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169 | 169 | | campuses, or program has committed. |
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170 | 170 | | SECTION 10. Section 12.064(b), Education Code, is amended |
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171 | 171 | | to read as follows: |
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172 | 172 | | (b) The procedure adopted under Subsection (a) must provide |
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173 | 173 | | an opportunity for a hearing to the campus or program for which a |
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174 | 174 | | charter is granted under this subchapter and to parents and |
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175 | 175 | | guardians of students at the campus or in the program. A hearing |
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176 | 176 | | under this subsection must be held on a charter [the] campus or on |
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177 | 177 | | the campus operating the [one of the campuses in the case of a |
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178 | 178 | | cooperative] charter program. |
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179 | 179 | | SECTION 11. Section 12.065, Education Code, is amended by |
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180 | 180 | | amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (c) to read as |
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181 | 181 | | follows: |
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182 | 182 | | (a) Except as provided by Subsection (c), eligibility |
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183 | 183 | | [Eligibility] criteria for admission of students to the campus or |
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184 | 184 | | program for which a charter is granted under this subchapter must |
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185 | 185 | | give priority on the basis of geographic and residency |
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186 | 186 | | considerations. After priority is given on those bases, secondary |
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187 | 187 | | consideration may be given to a student's age, grade level, or |
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188 | 188 | | academic credentials in general or in a specific area, as necessary |
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189 | 189 | | for the type of program offered. |
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190 | 190 | | (c) A campus or program may enter into an agreement with and |
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191 | 191 | | provide for enrollment preferences to children of employees of a |
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192 | 192 | | business and industry partner in the same manner as an |
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193 | 193 | | open-enrollment charter school under Section 12.117(e) if the |
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194 | 194 | | business and industry partner provides donations described by |
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195 | 195 | | Section 12.117(g) to the campus or program in an amount equal to at |
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196 | 196 | | least 50 percent of the funds the campus or program is annually |
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197 | 197 | | entitled to under Section 12.106. |
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198 | 198 | | SECTION 12. Section 12.101(b-0), Education Code, is amended |
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199 | 199 | | to read as follows: |
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200 | 200 | | (b-0) The commissioner shall notify the State Board of |
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201 | 201 | | Education of each charter the commissioner proposes to grant under |
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202 | 202 | | this subchapter. Unless, before the 90th day after the date on |
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203 | 203 | | which the board receives the notice from the commissioner, |
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204 | 204 | | two-thirds [a majority] of the members of the board [present and |
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205 | 205 | | voting] vote against the grant of that charter, the commissioner's |
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206 | 206 | | proposal to grant the charter takes effect. The board may not |
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207 | 207 | | deliberate or vote on any grant of a charter that is not proposed by |
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208 | 208 | | the commissioner. |
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209 | 209 | | SECTION 13. Section 12.1058, Education Code, is amended by |
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210 | 210 | | amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsections (d), (d-1), (d-2), |
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211 | 211 | | and (d-3) to read as follows: |
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212 | 212 | | (c) Notwithstanding Subsection (a) or (b), an |
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213 | 213 | | open-enrollment charter school operated by a tax exempt entity as |
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214 | 214 | | described by Section 12.101(a)(3) is not considered to be a |
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215 | 215 | | political subdivision, local government, or local governmental |
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216 | 216 | | entity unless: |
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217 | 217 | | (1) a [the applicable] statute specifically states |
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218 | 218 | | that the statute applies to an open-enrollment charter school; or |
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219 | 219 | | (2) a provision in this chapter states that a specific |
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220 | 220 | | statute applies to an open-enrollment charter school. |
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221 | 221 | | (d) A political subdivision other than a school district |
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222 | 222 | | shall consider an open-enrollment charter school a school district |
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223 | 223 | | for purposes of zoning, project permitting, platting and replatting |
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224 | 224 | | processes, business licensing, franchises, utility services, |
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225 | 225 | | eminent domain, signage, subdivision regulation, property |
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226 | 226 | | development projects, the requirements for posting bonds or |
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227 | 227 | | securities, contract requirements, land development standards as |
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228 | 228 | | provided by Section 212.902, Local Government Code, tree and |
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229 | 229 | | vegetation regulations, regulations of architectural features of a |
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230 | 230 | | structure, construction of fences, landscaping, garbage disposal, |
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231 | 231 | | noise levels, fees or other assessments, and construction or site |
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232 | 232 | | development work. An open-enrollment charter school does not have |
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233 | 233 | | the power of eminent domain. |
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234 | 234 | | (d-1) A political subdivision other than a school district |
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235 | 235 | | may not take any action that prohibits an open-enrollment charter |
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236 | 236 | | school from operating a public school campus, educational support |
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237 | 237 | | facility, athletic facility, or administrative office within the |
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238 | 238 | | political subdivision's jurisdiction or on any specific property |
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239 | 239 | | located within the jurisdiction of the political subdivision that |
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240 | 240 | | it could not take against a school district. A political |
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241 | 241 | | subdivision other than a school district shall grant approval in |
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242 | 242 | | the same manner and follow the same timelines as if the charter |
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243 | 243 | | school were a school district located in that political |
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244 | 244 | | subdivision's jurisdiction. |
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245 | 245 | | (d-2) This section applies to both owned and leased property |
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246 | 246 | | of the open-enrollment charter school under Section 12.128. |
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247 | 247 | | (d-3) Except as provided by this section, this section does |
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248 | 248 | | not affect the authority granted by state law to a political |
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249 | 249 | | subdivision to regulate an open-enrollment charter school |
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250 | 250 | | regarding health and safety ordinances. |
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251 | 251 | | SECTION 14. Sections 12.106(a) and (i), Education Code, are |
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252 | 252 | | amended to read as follows: |
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253 | 253 | | (a) A charter holder is entitled to receive for the |
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254 | 254 | | open-enrollment charter school funding under Chapter 48 equal to |
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255 | 255 | | the amount of funding per student in weighted average daily |
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256 | 256 | | attendance to which the charter holder would be entitled for the |
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257 | 257 | | school under Chapter 48 if the school were a school district without |
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258 | 258 | | a tier one local share for purposes of Section 48.266, excluding: |
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259 | 259 | | (1) the adjustment under Section 48.052; |
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260 | 260 | | (2) [,] the funding under Sections 48.101 and [, |
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261 | 261 | | 48.110,] 48.111; [,] and |
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262 | 262 | | (3) [48.112, and] enrichment funding under Section |
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263 | 263 | | 48.202(a)[, to which the charter holder would be entitled for the |
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264 | 264 | | school under Chapter 48 if the school were a school district without |
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265 | 265 | | a tier one local share for purposes of Section 48.266]. |
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266 | 266 | | (i) The agency may approve a transfer of a charter holder's |
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267 | 267 | | remaining funds to another charter holder, a school district |
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268 | 268 | | operating a charter school under Subchapter C, or a public junior or |
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269 | 269 | | senior college operating a charter school under Subchapter E if the |
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270 | 270 | | entity [charter holder] receiving the funds has not received notice |
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271 | 271 | | of the expiration or revocation of the entity's [the charter |
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272 | 272 | | holder's] charter [for an open-enrollment charter school] or notice |
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273 | 273 | | of a reconstitution of the governing body of the charter holder |
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274 | 274 | | under Section 12.1141 or 12.115 and satisfies any other |
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275 | 275 | | qualification provided by a rule adopted by the commissioner under |
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276 | 276 | | Subsection (j). |
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277 | 277 | | SECTION 15. Section 12.110(d), Education Code, is amended |
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278 | 278 | | to read as follows: |
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279 | 279 | | (d) The commissioner shall approve or deny an application |
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280 | 280 | | based on: |
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281 | 281 | | (1) documented evidence collected through the |
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282 | 282 | | application review process; |
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283 | 283 | | (2) merit; and |
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284 | 284 | | (3) other criteria as adopted by the commissioner, |
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285 | 285 | | which must include: |
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286 | 286 | | (A) criteria relating to the capability of the |
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287 | 287 | | applicant to carry out the responsibilities provided by the charter |
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288 | 288 | | and the likelihood that the applicant will operate a school of high |
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289 | 289 | | quality; and |
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290 | 290 | | (B) criteria relating to improving student |
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291 | 291 | | performance and encouraging innovative programs[; and |
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292 | 292 | | [(C) a statement from any school district whose |
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293 | 293 | | enrollment is likely to be affected by the open-enrollment charter |
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294 | 294 | | school, including information relating to any financial difficulty |
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295 | 295 | | that a loss in enrollment may have on the district]. |
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296 | 296 | | SECTION 16. Section 12.1101, Education Code, is amended to |
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297 | 297 | | read as follows: |
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298 | 298 | | Sec. 12.1101. NOTIFICATION OF CHARTER APPLICATION OR |
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299 | 299 | | ESTABLISHMENT OF CAMPUS. (a) The commissioner by rule shall adopt |
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300 | 300 | | a procedure for providing notice to the following persons [on |
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301 | 301 | | receipt by the commissioner] of an application for a charter for an |
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302 | 302 | | open-enrollment charter school submitted under Section 12.110 or of |
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303 | 303 | | notice of the establishment of a campus as authorized under Section |
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304 | 304 | | 12.101(b-4): |
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305 | 305 | | (1) the superintendent and the board of trustees of |
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306 | 306 | | each school district from which the proposed open-enrollment |
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307 | 307 | | charter school or campus is likely to draw students, as determined |
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308 | 308 | | by the commissioner; and |
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309 | 309 | | (2) each member of the legislature that represents the |
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310 | 310 | | geographic area to be served by the proposed school or campus, as |
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311 | 311 | | determined by the commissioner. |
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312 | 312 | | (b) The commissioner by rule shall adopt a procedure for |
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313 | 313 | | providing notice of the approval of an expansion amendment under |
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314 | 314 | | Section 12.114 to the superintendent and the board of trustees of |
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315 | 315 | | each school district from which a new campus or the expansion of an |
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316 | 316 | | existing campus proposed by the expansion amendment is likely to |
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317 | 317 | | draw students, as determined by the commissioner. |
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318 | 318 | | SECTION 17. Section 12.114(d), Education Code, is amended |
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319 | 319 | | to read as follows: |
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320 | 320 | | (d) A charter holder may submit a request for approval for |
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321 | 321 | | an expansion amendment up to 36 [18] months before the date on which |
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322 | 322 | | the expansion will be effective. A request for approval of an |
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323 | 323 | | expansion amendment does not obligate the charter holder to |
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324 | 324 | | complete the proposed expansion. |
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325 | 325 | | SECTION 18. The heading to Section 12.117, Education Code, |
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326 | 326 | | is amended to read as follows: |
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327 | 327 | | Sec. 12.117. ADMISSION; SUPPORT BY BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY |
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328 | 328 | | PARTNER. |
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329 | 329 | | SECTION 19. Section 12.117, Education Code, is amended by |
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330 | 330 | | amending Subsections (a) and (d) and adding Subsections (e), (f), |
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331 | 331 | | and (g) to read as follows: |
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332 | 332 | | (a) For admission to an open-enrollment charter school, the |
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333 | 333 | | governing body of the school shall: |
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334 | 334 | | (1) require the applicant to complete and submit the |
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335 | 335 | | common admission application form described by Section 12.1173 not |
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336 | 336 | | later than a reasonable deadline the school establishes; and |
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337 | 337 | | (2) on receipt of more acceptable applications for |
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338 | 338 | | admission under this section than available positions in the |
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339 | 339 | | school: |
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340 | 340 | | (A) prioritize admitting: |
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341 | 341 | | (i) a child who attended the school the |
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342 | 342 | | previous year; |
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343 | 343 | | (ii) a child who is a sibling of a student |
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344 | 344 | | admitted to the school; or |
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345 | 345 | | (iii) subject to Subsection (e), the child |
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346 | 346 | | of a permanent employee of a business and industry partner under |
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347 | 347 | | that subsection, if applicable; and |
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348 | 348 | | (B) after admitting any eligible applicant |
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349 | 349 | | described by Paragraph (A): |
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350 | 350 | | (i) fill the remaining available positions |
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351 | 351 | | by lottery; or |
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352 | 352 | | (ii) [(B)] subject to Subsection (b), fill |
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353 | 353 | | the remaining available positions in the order in which |
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354 | 354 | | applications received before the application deadline were |
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355 | 355 | | received. |
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356 | 356 | | (d) Notwithstanding Section 12.111(a)(13), an |
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357 | 357 | | open-enrollment charter school may admit a child of an employee or |
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358 | 358 | | business and industry partner of the school as provided by this |
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359 | 359 | | section regardless of whether the child resides in the geographic |
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360 | 360 | | area served by the school. |
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361 | 361 | | (e) An open-enrollment charter school may establish a |
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362 | 362 | | partnership with a business and industry partner for the support of |
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363 | 363 | | the school or a campus of the school by entering into a memorandum |
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364 | 364 | | of understanding described by Subsection (f) with that partner. |
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365 | 365 | | The memorandum of understanding under Subsection (f) must establish |
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366 | 366 | | the maximum enrollment that may be reserved for children of |
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367 | 367 | | permanent employees of the business and industry partner, which may |
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368 | 368 | | not be more than 50 percent of the total enrollment capacity of the |
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369 | 369 | | school or campus supported by the business and industry partner. |
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370 | 370 | | The school or campus may not, and a memorandum of understanding |
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371 | 371 | | entered into under Subsection (f) may not authorize or require the |
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372 | 372 | | school or campus to, unenroll a student who is enrolled at the |
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373 | 373 | | school in a school year or refuse to reenroll a student who was |
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374 | 374 | | enrolled at the school during the previous school year to create an |
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375 | 375 | | available position for the enrollment of a child of a partner |
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376 | 376 | | employee. |
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377 | 377 | | (f) A memorandum of understanding between an |
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378 | 378 | | open-enrollment charter school and a business and industry partner |
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379 | 379 | | must specify the methods by which the business and industry partner |
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380 | 380 | | will support the charter school. Support provided by a business and |
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381 | 381 | | industry partner: |
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382 | 382 | | (1) must include a donation of funds or services under |
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383 | 383 | | Subdivision (2) equal to a value of at least 50 percent of the funds |
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384 | 384 | | the school campus is entitled to annually under Section 12.106; and |
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385 | 385 | | (2) may include: |
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386 | 386 | | (A) internships; |
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387 | 387 | | (B) career counseling; |
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388 | 388 | | (C) academic tutoring; and |
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389 | 389 | | (D) enrichment activities. |
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390 | 390 | | (g) The commissioner shall adopt rules as necessary to |
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391 | 391 | | implement Subsections (e) and (f), including rules for |
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392 | 392 | | qualification as a business and industry partner. The rules must |
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393 | 393 | | permit a business and industry partner to be a corporation, limited |
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394 | 394 | | liability company, partnership, or other private or public entity. |
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395 | 395 | | In adopting rules regarding required donations to qualify as a |
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396 | 396 | | business and industry partner, the commissioner shall consider the |
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397 | 397 | | following types of donations as permissible: |
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398 | 398 | | (1) real property on which the school or school campus |
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399 | 399 | | is built; |
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400 | 400 | | (2) a building or space used by the school or campus at |
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401 | 401 | | no cost; |
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402 | 402 | | (3) funds, materials, or labor for renovations to |
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403 | 403 | | existing school or campus buildings; and |
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404 | 404 | | (4) capital improvements to the school or campus, |
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405 | 405 | | including investments in technology. |
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406 | 406 | | SECTION 20. Section 12.1284(a), Education Code, is amended |
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407 | 407 | | to read as follows: |
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408 | 408 | | (a) After extinguishing all payable obligations owed by an |
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409 | 409 | | open-enrollment charter school that ceases to operate, including a |
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410 | 410 | | debt described by Section 12.128(e), a former charter holder shall: |
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411 | 411 | | (1) remit to the agency: |
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412 | 412 | | (A) any remaining funds described by Section |
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413 | 413 | | 12.106(h); and |
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414 | 414 | | (B) any state reimbursement amounts from the sale |
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415 | 415 | | of property described by Section 12.128; or |
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416 | 416 | | (2) transfer the remaining funds to another charter |
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417 | 417 | | holder, a school district operating a charter school under |
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418 | 418 | | Subchapter C, or a public junior or public senior college operating |
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419 | 419 | | a charter school under Subchapter E, as provided by [under] Section |
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420 | 420 | | 12.106(i). |
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421 | 421 | | SECTION 21. Section 12.141(a), Education Code, is amended |
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422 | 422 | | to read as follows: |
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423 | 423 | | (a) The agency shall deposit funds received under Sections |
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424 | 424 | | 12.106, 12.128, 12.1281, 12.1283, and 12.1284 into the charter |
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425 | 425 | | school liquidation fund and may use the funds to: |
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426 | 426 | | (1) pay expenses relating to managing and closing an |
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427 | 427 | | open-enrollment charter school that ceases to operate, including: |
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428 | 428 | | (A) maintenance of the school's student and other |
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429 | 429 | | records; [and] |
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430 | 430 | | (B) the agency's personnel costs associated with |
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431 | 431 | | managing and closing the school; and |
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432 | 432 | | (C) the agency's costs in conducting a special |
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433 | 433 | | investigation of an open-enrollment charter school under Section |
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434 | 434 | | 39.004; |
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435 | 435 | | (2) dispose of property described by Section 12.128; |
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436 | 436 | | and |
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437 | 437 | | (3) maintain property described by Section 12.128, |
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438 | 438 | | including expenses for insurance, utilities, maintenance, and |
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439 | 439 | | repairs. |
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440 | 440 | | SECTION 22. Section 29.171, Education Code, is amended by |
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441 | 441 | | adding Subsection (d) to read as follows: |
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442 | 442 | | (d) A school district or open-enrollment charter school |
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443 | 443 | | that partners with a private prekindergarten program may use a |
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444 | 444 | | facility or location for the program if the facility or location |
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445 | 445 | | complies with any municipal ordinance applicable to the operation |
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446 | 446 | | of a private prekindergarten program, if any have been adopted by |
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447 | 447 | | the municipality in which the facility or location is located. |
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448 | 448 | | SECTION 23. Section 39A.105(a), Education Code, is amended |
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449 | 449 | | to read as follows: |
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450 | 450 | | (a) A campus turnaround plan must include: |
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451 | 451 | | (1) details on the method for restructuring, |
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452 | 452 | | reforming, or reconstituting the campus; |
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453 | 453 | | (2) a detailed description of the academic programs to |
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454 | 454 | | be offered at the campus, including: |
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455 | 455 | | (A) instructional methods; |
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456 | 456 | | (B) length of school day and school year; |
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457 | 457 | | (C) academic credit and promotion criteria; and |
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458 | 458 | | (D) programs to serve special student |
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459 | 459 | | populations; |
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460 | 460 | | (3) if a district charter is to be granted for the |
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461 | 461 | | campus under Section 12.0521 [12.0522]: |
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462 | 462 | | (A) the term of the charter; and |
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463 | 463 | | (B) information on the implementation of the |
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464 | 464 | | charter; |
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465 | 465 | | (4) written comments from: |
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466 | 466 | | (A) the campus-level committee established under |
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467 | 467 | | Section 11.251, if applicable; |
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468 | 468 | | (B) parents; and |
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469 | 469 | | (C) teachers at the campus; and |
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470 | 470 | | (5) a detailed description of the budget, staffing, |
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471 | 471 | | and financial resources required to implement the plan, including |
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472 | 472 | | any supplemental resources to be provided by the school district or |
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473 | 473 | | other identified sources. |
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474 | 474 | | SECTION 24. Subchapter A, Chapter 48, Education Code, is |
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475 | 475 | | amended by adding Section 48.012 to read as follows: |
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476 | 476 | | Sec. 48.012. ENROLLMENT TRANSPARENCY REPORT. The agency |
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477 | 477 | | shall annually prepare and publish a report indicating the amount |
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478 | 478 | | of local revenue in excess of entitlement that each school district |
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479 | 479 | | would have received if each student in the attendance zone of the |
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480 | 480 | | district who was enrolled during the school year in an |
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481 | 481 | | open-enrollment charter school or in a different school district |
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482 | 482 | | had instead enrolled in that district. |
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483 | 483 | | SECTION 25. Section 212.001, Local Government Code, is |
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484 | 484 | | amended by adding Subdivision (1-a) to read as follows: |
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485 | 485 | | (1-a) "Open-enrollment charter school" means a school |
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486 | 486 | | granted a charter under Subchapter C, D, or E, Chapter 12, Education |
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487 | 487 | | Code. |
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488 | 488 | | SECTION 26. Section 212.902, Local Government Code, is |
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489 | 489 | | amended to read as follows: |
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490 | 490 | | Sec. 212.902. SCHOOL DISTRICT AND OPEN-ENROLLMENT CHARTER |
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491 | 491 | | SCHOOL LAND DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS. (a) This section applies to an |
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492 | 492 | | agreement [agreements] between a school district or |
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493 | 493 | | open-enrollment charter school [districts] and a [any] |
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494 | 494 | | municipality which has annexed territory for limited purposes. |
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495 | 495 | | (b) On request by a school district or open-enrollment |
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496 | 496 | | charter school, a municipality shall enter an agreement with the |
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497 | 497 | | board of trustees of the school district or the governing body of |
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498 | 498 | | the open-enrollment charter school to establish review fees, review |
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499 | 499 | | periods, and land development standards ordinances and to provide |
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500 | 500 | | alternative water pollution control methodologies for school |
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501 | 501 | | buildings constructed by the school district or open-enrollment |
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502 | 502 | | charter school. The agreement shall include a provision exempting |
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503 | 503 | | the district or charter school from all land development ordinances |
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504 | 504 | | in cases where the district or charter school is adding temporary |
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505 | 505 | | classroom buildings on an existing school campus. |
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506 | 506 | | (c) If the municipality and the school district or |
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507 | 507 | | open-enrollment charter school do not reach an agreement on or |
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508 | 508 | | before the 120th day after the date on which the municipality |
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509 | 509 | | receives the district's or charter school's request for an |
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510 | 510 | | agreement, proposed agreements by the [school] district or charter |
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511 | 511 | | school and the municipality shall be submitted to an independent |
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512 | 512 | | arbitrator appointed by the presiding district judge whose |
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513 | 513 | | jurisdiction includes the [school] district or charter school. The |
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514 | 514 | | arbitrator shall, after a hearing at which both the [school] |
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515 | 515 | | district or charter school and the municipality make presentations |
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516 | 516 | | on their proposed agreements, prepare an agreement resolving any |
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517 | 517 | | differences between the proposals. The agreement prepared by the |
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518 | 518 | | arbitrator will be final and binding upon both the [school] |
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519 | 519 | | district or charter school and the municipality. The cost of the |
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520 | 520 | | arbitration proceeding shall be borne equally by the [school] |
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521 | 521 | | district or charter school and the municipality. |
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522 | 522 | | (d) A school district or open-enrollment charter school |
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523 | 523 | | that requests an agreement under this section, at the time the |
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524 | 524 | | district or charter school [it] makes the request, shall send a copy |
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525 | 525 | | of the request to the commissioner of education. At the end of the |
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526 | 526 | | 120-day period, the requesting district or charter school shall |
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527 | 527 | | report to the commissioner the status or result of negotiations |
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528 | 528 | | with the municipality. A municipality may send a separate status |
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529 | 529 | | report to the commissioner. The district or charter school shall |
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530 | 530 | | send to the commissioner a copy of each agreement between the |
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531 | 531 | | district or charter school and a municipality under this section. |
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532 | 532 | | (e) In this section, "land development standards" includes |
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533 | 533 | | impervious cover limitations, building setbacks, floor to area |
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534 | 534 | | ratios, building heights and coverage, water quality controls, |
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535 | 535 | | landscaping, development setbacks, compatibility standards, |
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536 | 536 | | traffic analyses including traffic impact analyses, vehicle |
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537 | 537 | | queuing, parking requirements, signage requirements, and driveway |
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538 | 538 | | cuts, if applicable. |
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539 | 539 | | (f) Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the |
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540 | 540 | | applicability of or waive fees for fire, safety, health, or |
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541 | 541 | | building code ordinances of the municipality prior to or during |
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542 | 542 | | construction of school buildings, nor shall any agreement waive any |
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543 | 543 | | fee or modify any ordinance of a municipality for an |
---|
544 | 544 | | administration, service, or athletic facility proposed for |
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545 | 545 | | construction by a school district or open-enrollment charter |
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546 | 546 | | school. |
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547 | 547 | | SECTION 27. Section 552.053, Local Government Code, is |
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548 | 548 | | amended by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsections (b-1) and |
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549 | 549 | | (b-2) to read as follows: |
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550 | 550 | | (b) The following may be exempt: |
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551 | 551 | | (1) this state; |
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552 | 552 | | (2) a county; |
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553 | 553 | | (3) a municipality; or |
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554 | 554 | | (4) [a] school districts and open-enrollment charter |
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555 | 555 | | schools [district]. |
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556 | 556 | | (b-1) For purposes of an exemption granted under Subsection |
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557 | 557 | | (b)(4), the exemption must be granted to both school districts and |
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558 | 558 | | open-enrollment charter schools. |
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559 | 559 | | (b-2) For purposes of this section, "open-enrollment |
---|
560 | 560 | | charter school" means a school granted a charter under Subchapter D |
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561 | 561 | | or E, Chapter 12, Education Code. |
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562 | 562 | | SECTION 28. The following provisions of the Education Code |
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563 | 563 | | are repealed: |
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564 | 564 | | (1) Section 12.0522; |
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565 | 565 | | (2) Section 12.053; |
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566 | 566 | | (3) Section 12.0532; |
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567 | 567 | | (4) Section 12.103(c); |
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568 | 568 | | (5) Section 12.106(a-4); and |
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569 | 569 | | (6) Section 39A.107(b). |
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570 | 570 | | SECTION 29. An exemption granted to a school district under |
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571 | 571 | | Section 552.053(b)(4), Local Government Code, as that section |
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572 | 572 | | existed before the effective date of this Act, automatically |
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573 | 573 | | extends to all open-enrollment charter schools located in the |
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574 | 574 | | municipality after the effective date of this Act unless the |
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575 | 575 | | municipality repeals the exemption before the effective date of |
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576 | 576 | | this Act. |
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577 | 577 | | SECTION 30. To the extent of any conflict, this Act prevails |
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578 | 578 | | over another Act of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023, |
---|
579 | 579 | | relating to nonsubstantive additions to and corrections in enacted |
---|
580 | 580 | | codes. |
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581 | 581 | | SECTION 31. This Act applies beginning with the 2023-2024 |
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582 | 582 | | school year. |
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583 | 583 | | SECTION 32. This Act takes effect immediately if it |
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584 | 584 | | receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each |
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585 | 585 | | house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. |
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586 | 586 | | If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate |
---|
587 | 587 | | effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |
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