Bill Text: TX HB3941 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to online adult high school diploma programs.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-05-02 - Committee report sent to Calendars [HB3941 Detail]
Download: Texas-2019-HB3941-Introduced.html
86R14280 MP-F | ||
By: Deshotel | H.B. No. 3941 |
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relating to online adult high school diploma programs. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 29, Education Code, is | ||
amended by adding Section 29.0871 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 29.0871. ONLINE ADULT HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA PROGRAMS. | ||
(a) The agency shall develop a process by which an eligible | ||
provider may apply to the commissioner for authority to operate an | ||
online adult high school diploma program for eligible students to | ||
obtain a high school diploma. An eligible provider must be | ||
accredited by a research-based, nationally recognized, and | ||
universally accessible accreditation system approved by the | ||
commissioner. | ||
(b) Any eligible provider may apply for authorization to | ||
operate an online adult high school diploma program under this | ||
section. As part of the application process, the commissioner shall | ||
require an eligible provider to provide information regarding the | ||
operation of any similar program during the preceding five years. | ||
(c) A student is eligible to participate in an online adult | ||
high school diploma program authorized under this section if the | ||
student: | ||
(1) resides in this state; | ||
(2) is 19 years of age or older; | ||
(3) was unable to satisfy the high school graduation | ||
requirements in place at the time the student would have normally | ||
graduated from high school; | ||
(4) is unable to satisfy the high school graduation | ||
requirements of any other program offered under this title; and | ||
(5) meets any other requirements as determined by the | ||
commissioner. | ||
(d) A student participating in an online adult high school | ||
diploma program authorized under this section must have taken the | ||
appropriate end-of-course assessment instruments specified by | ||
Section 39.023(c) before entering the program and must take each | ||
appropriate end-of-course assessment instrument administered | ||
during the period in which the student is enrolled in the program. | ||
(e) A student enrolled in an online adult high school | ||
diploma program authorized under this section may not participate | ||
in a competition or other activity sanctioned or conducted by the | ||
University Interscholastic League. | ||
(f) A student who enrolls in an online adult high school | ||
diploma program authorized under this section is entitled to the | ||
benefits of the Foundation School Program under Section 42.003 in | ||
the same manner as any other student who has not received a high | ||
school diploma. | ||
(g) For purposes of funding under Chapters 41, 42, and 46, a | ||
student attending an online adult high school diploma program | ||
authorized under this section may be counted in attendance only for | ||
the actual number of hours each school day the student attends the | ||
program, in accordance with Section 25.081. | ||
(h) The commissioner may revoke a provider's authorization | ||
to operate an online adult high school diploma program under this | ||
section after consideration of relevant factors, including student | ||
performance on assessment instruments required under Chapter 39, | ||
the percentage of students who complete the program and earn a high | ||
school diploma, and other criteria adopted by the commissioner. A | ||
decision by the commissioner under this subsection is final and may | ||
not be appealed. | ||
(i) The commissioner may adopt rules to implement this | ||
section. | ||
SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date | ||
of this Act, the commissioner of education shall adopt rules | ||
necessary to implement Section 29.0871, 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, 2019. |