89R8744 AND-F
By: Leo Wilson H.B. No. 2410
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to granting charters to certain public and private
institutions of higher education for open-enrollment charter
schools.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. The heading to Subchapter E, Chapter 12,
Education Code, is amended to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER E. PUBLIC OR PRIVATE INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION
[COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY OR JUNIOR COLLEGE] CHARTER SCHOOL
SECTION 2. Section 12.151, Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 12.151. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter, "institution
of higher education" and "private or independent institution of
higher education" ["public junior college" and "public senior
college or university"] have the meanings assigned by Section
61.003.
SECTION 3. Section 12.152(a), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a) In accordance with this subchapter and Subchapter D, the
commissioner may grant a charter on the application of:
(1) an institution of higher education [a public
senior college or university] for an open-enrollment charter school
to operate on the campus of the institution of higher education
[public senior college or university] or, subject to Subsection
(b), at another location in any county in this state; or
(2) a private or independent institution of higher
education [public junior college] for an open-enrollment charter
school to operate on the campus of the private or independent
institution of higher education [public junior college] or in the
same county in which the campus of the private or independent
institution of higher education [public junior college] is located.
SECTION 4. Section 12.154(a), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a) Notwithstanding Section 12.110(d), the commissioner may
grant a charter under this subchapter to an institution of higher
education or a private or independent institution of higher
education [a public senior college or university] only if the
following criteria are satisfied in the institution's [public
senior college's or university's] application, as determined by the
commissioner:
(1) the [college or university] charter school's
educational program must include innovative teaching methods;
(2) the [college or university] charter school's
educational program must be implemented under the direct
supervision of a member of the teaching or research faculty of the
institution of higher education or the private or independent
institution of higher education [public senior college or
university];
(3) the faculty member supervising the [college or
university] charter school's educational program must have
substantial experience and expertise in education research,
teacher education, classroom instruction, or educational
administration;
(4) the [college or university] charter school's
educational program must be designed to meet specific goals
described in the charter, including improving student performance
or dropout recovery, and each aspect of the program must be directed
toward the attainment of the goals;
(5) the attainment of the [college or university]
charter school's educational program goals must be measured using
specific, objective standards set forth in the charter, including
assessment methods and a time frame; and
(6) the financial operations of the [college or
university] charter school must be supervised by the business
office of the institution of higher education or the private or
independent institution of higher education [public senior college
or university].
SECTION 5. Section 12.155, Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 12.155. SCHOOL NAME. The name of a [college or
university] charter school operated by an institution of higher
education or a private or independent institution of higher
education under this subchapter [junior college charter school]
must include the name of the institution [public senior college or
university or public junior college, as applicable, operating the
school].
SECTION 6. Section 12.156(a), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a) Except as otherwise provided by this subchapter,
Subchapter D applies to a [college or university] charter school
operated by an institution of higher education or private or
independent institution of higher education under this subchapter
[or junior college charter school] as though the [college or
university] charter school [or junior college charter school, as
applicable,] were granted a charter under that subchapter.
SECTION 7. Section 12.154(b), Education Code, is repealed.
SECTION 8. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
an application for a charter filed on or after the effective date of
this Act. An application for a charter filed before the effective
date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the
application was filed, and the former law is continued in effect for
that purpose.
SECTION 9. 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, 2025.