| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to public comment on an application for or a revision of a |
|
|
charter for an open-enrollment charter school. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Section 12.110, Education Code, is amended by |
|
|
amending Subsection (d) and adding Subsection (d-1) to read as |
|
|
follows: |
|
|
(d) The commissioner shall approve or deny an application |
|
|
based on: |
|
|
(1) documented evidence collected through the |
|
|
application review process; |
|
|
(2) merit; [and] |
|
|
(3) other criteria as adopted by the commissioner, |
|
|
which must include: |
|
|
(A) criteria relating to the capability of the |
|
|
applicant to carry out the responsibilities provided by the charter |
|
|
and the likelihood that the applicant will operate a school of high |
|
|
quality; |
|
|
(B) criteria relating to improving student |
|
|
performance and encouraging innovative programs; and |
|
|
(C) a statement from any school district whose |
|
|
enrollment is likely to be affected by the open-enrollment charter |
|
|
school, including information relating to any financial difficulty |
|
|
that a loss in enrollment may have on the district; and |
|
|
(4) consideration of public comments on the |
|
|
application received under Subsection (d-1). |
|
|
(d-1) Before approving or denying an application received |
|
|
under Subsection (a), the commissioner shall provide not less than |
|
|
60 days for public comment on the application. |
|
|
SECTION 2. Section 12.114, Education Code, is amended by |
|
|
adding Subsection (b-1) and amending Subsection (c) to read as |
|
|
follows: |
|
|
(b-1) The commissioner shall provide not less than 60 days |
|
|
for public comment on a request for approval for an expansion |
|
|
amendment submitted under this section. |
|
|
(c) The [Not later than the 60th day after the date that a |
|
|
charter holder submits to the] commissioner shall provide to the |
|
|
charter holder written notice of approval or disapproval of a |
|
|
completed request for [approval for] an expansion amendment, as |
|
|
defined by commissioner rule, including a new school amendment, as |
|
|
soon as practicable and not later than the 10th business day after |
|
|
the date the period for public comment on the request provided under |
|
|
Subsection (b-1) expires [the commissioner shall provide to the |
|
|
charter holder written notice of approval or disapproval of the |
|
|
amendment]. |
|
|
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, 2021. |