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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the grade levels at which students may enroll in courses |
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provided through the state virtual school network. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 30A.101(c), Education Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(c) A nonprofit entity, private entity, or corporation is |
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eligible to act as a course provider under this chapter only if the |
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nonprofit entity, private entity, or corporation: |
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(1) complies with all applicable federal and state |
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laws prohibiting discrimination; |
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(2) demonstrates financial solvency; and |
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(3) provides evidence of prior successful experience |
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offering online courses to kindergarten or elementary, middle, or |
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high school students, with demonstrated student success in course |
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completion and performance, as determined by the commissioner. |
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SECTION 2. Section 30A.104(a), Education Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(a) A course offered through the state virtual school |
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network must: |
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(1) be in a specific subject that is part of the |
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required curriculum under Section 28.002(a); |
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(2) be aligned with the essential knowledge and skills |
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identified under Section 28.002(c) for a grade level at or above |
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kindergarten [grade level three]; and |
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(3) be the equivalent in instructional rigor and scope |
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to a course that is provided in a traditional classroom setting |
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during: |
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(A) a semester of 90 instructional days; and |
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(B) a school day that meets the minimum length of |
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a school day required under Section 25.082. |
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SECTION 3. Section 30A.151(f), Education Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(f) For a full-time electronic course program offered |
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through the state virtual school network for a grade level at or |
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above kindergarten [grade level three] but not above grade level |
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eight, a school district or open-enrollment charter school is |
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entitled to receive federal, state, and local funding for a student |
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enrolled in the program in an amount equal to the funding the |
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district or school would otherwise receive for a student enrolled |
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in the district or school. The district or school may calculate |
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the average daily attendance of a student enrolled in the program |
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based on: |
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(1) hours of contact with the student; |
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(2) the student's successful completion of a course; |
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or |
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(3) a method approved by the commissioner. |
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SECTION 4. This Act applies beginning with the 2015-2016 |
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school year. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |