Bill Text: TX HB3877 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Introduced


Bill Title: Relating to the establishment of teacher-sponsored academies.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-03-20 - Referred to Public Education [HB3877 Detail]

Download: Texas-2023-HB3877-Introduced.html
  88R135 BDP-F
 
  By: Troxclair H.B. No. 3877
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the establishment of teacher-sponsored academies.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 12, Education Code, is amended by adding
  Subchapter F to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER F.  TEACHER-SPONSORED ACADEMY PROGRAM
         Sec. 12.201.  PURPOSES.  Teacher-sponsored academies are
  established under this subchapter to provide highly qualified
  education professionals an opportunity to:
               (1)  operate an educational institution and function
  independently; and
               (2)  innovate and create educational programs tailored
  specifically to the students enrolled in the academy.
         Sec. 12.202.  TEACHER-SPONSORED ACADEMY PROGRAM; RULES.  (a)  
  The commissioner shall establish a teacher-sponsored academy
  program under which eligible education professionals are
  authorized to create and operate a teacher-sponsored academy in
  accordance with this subchapter.
         (b)  The commissioner shall adopt rules to administer this
  subchapter.  The rules must include provisions relating to
  prevention of fraud and abuse in financial transactions under the
  teacher-sponsored academy program.
         Sec. 12.203.  ELIGIBLE EDUCATION PROFESSIONALS. (a)  To be
  eligible to operate a teacher-sponsored academy under this
  subchapter, an education professional must:
               (1)  have at least three years of classroom teaching
  experience;
               (2)  have been rated as proficient or higher for at
  least three years under the evaluation system used to evaluate the
  professional; or
               (3)  have served as the principal of a school for at
  least three years.
         (b)  A teacher-sponsored academy must be operated by at least
  one eligible education professional and be formed as a corporation
  governed under Title 2, Business Organizations Code.
         Sec. 12.204.  APPLICATION OF LAWS. A teacher-sponsored
  academy is subject only to federal and state laws applicable to
  schools accredited by an organization that is monitored and
  approved by the Texas Private School Accreditation Commission.  A
  teacher-sponsored academy is not subject to state law applicable to
  charter schools authorized by law other than this subchapter.
         Sec. 12.205.  INITIAL FUNDING. An eligible education
  professional under Section 12.203 is responsible for securing
  initial capital from sources other than public funding for the
  establishment of a teacher-sponsored academy.  The commissioner may
  not provide any public or state funding to an eligible education
  professional operating a teacher-sponsored academy during the
  first 12 months of operation of the academy.
         Sec. 12.206.  GRANTING OF CHARTER. The commissioner shall
  grant a charter to operate a teacher-sponsored academy to an
  eligible education professional under Section 12.203 if the
  professional provides to the commissioner:
               (1)  a viable business plan;
               (2)  proof of financial ability to fund 12 months of the
  academy's anticipated expenses, presented in the form of a bank
  letter of credit or other acceptable financial guarantee; and
               (3)  demonstration of parental and community interest
  in the establishment of a teacher-sponsored academy.
         Sec. 12.207.  PUBLIC FUNDING. (a)  Funding under this
  section may only be provided for a school year after the first full
  school year in which a teacher-sponsored academy is in operation.
         (b)  For each school year after the first school year in
  which a teacher-sponsored academy is in operation, the commissioner
  shall provide to a student who will attend a teacher-sponsored
  academy or the student's parent an amount equal to 75 percent of the
  average state funding per student received by open-enrollment
  charter schools under Subchapter D during the preceding school
  year.  The student or the student's parent may assign the funding
  received under this section to the teacher-sponsored academy the
  student attends.  The commissioner may adjust the amount provided
  in accordance with the student's period of actual enrollment in the
  academy during the school year.
         (c)  The commissioner shall provide the funding under
  Subsection (b) to the student, to the student's parent, or, if the
  funding has been assigned to the teacher-sponsored academy, to the
  teacher-sponsored academy, not later than the 90th day after the
  date the commissioner receives enrollment data reports from the
  teacher-sponsored academy at the end of each school year for which
  the academy is eligible for funding under this section.
         (d)  Federal funds and money from the available school fund
  may not be used to make payments under this subchapter.
         Sec. 12.208.  REPORTS. (a)  Not later than October 1 of each
  year, the commissioner shall determine the estimated number of
  students who are likely to attend each teacher-sponsored academy
  authorized under this subchapter.  The report must indicate the
  school district a student attending a teacher-sponsored academy is
  eligible to attend.
         (b)  Not later than March 1 of each year, the commissioner
  shall provide actual numbers of students who attend each
  teacher-sponsored academy.
         (c)  The agency shall modify estimates of funding under
  Section 48.266 using the information reported under this section.
         SECTION 2.  As soon as possible but not later than the 45th
  day after the effective date of this Act, the commissioner of
  education shall establish the teacher-sponsored academy program as
  required under Subchapter F, Chapter 12, Education Code, as added
  by this Act.
         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.
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