Bill Text: TX SB1513 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to state funding for certain children to attend certain private school.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-04-21 - Left pending in committee [SB1513 Detail]

Download: Texas-2015-SB1513-Introduced.html

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By: Hancock S.B. No. 1513

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to state funding for certain children to attend certain
private school.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter E, Chapter 29, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 29.1535 to read as follows:
Sec. 29.1535. STATE FUNDING FOR ELIGIBLE CHILDREN TO ATTEND
QUALIFIED PRIVATE SCHOOLS. (a) This section:
(1) "Eligible school district" means a school district
that is:
(A) wholly located in a county with a population
of more than 2.3 million; and
(B) has a student population that is more than
27,000 and less than 31,000.
(2) "Eligible student" means a person that resides in
an eligible district that is:
(A) eligible under Section 29.153(b) for
enrollment in a district kindergarten program; or
(B) otherwise eligible to enroll in public school
in this state.
(3) "Private school" has the meaning assigned by
Section 5.001.
(b) In accordance with this section and rules adopted under
this section, an eligible school district shall pay the costs of an
eligible student that attends a private school that meets the
requirements of this section.
(c) The amount of money for an eligible student that a
school district shall pay under this section is:
(1) an amount equal to the average total funding for
each student in the student's grade level in the district during the
preceding school year for maintenance and operations, including
state and local funding; or
(2) if the student is enrolled in a prekindergarten
program and the district did not operate a prekindergarten program
during the preceding school year, the statewide average amount of
funding to which a district would be entitled under the Foundation
School Program for an additional student in average daily
attendance on a half-day basis.
(d) An eligible student who attends a private school under
this section:
(1) is included in determining the average daily
attendance under Section 42.005 of the school district in which the
student would otherwise attend school; and
(2) is considered to be enrolled in a public school for
purposes of Section 42.003.
(e) A private school may not charge an eligible student
attending a school under this section tuition or require fees in
addition to the amount paid by a school district under Subsection
(b).
(f) An eligible district shall establish:
(1) standards with which a private school must comply
for the school to be eligible to receive payment under this section;
(2) a method for the application for and the delivery
of that payment; and
(3) the manner in which the parent of an eligible
student must apply for funding to permit the child to attend the
private school.
(g) The standards established under Subsection (f)(1) must:
(1) provide a fair process for admission to the
private school that:
(A) may give preference to siblings of an
enrolled student or children residing in the same household as an
enrolled student;
(B) requires that the private school not refuse
to enroll a child on the basis of the child's race, national origin,
ethnic background, religion, or disability; and
(C) establishes a policy to fill positions in
case the private school has more applicants under this section than
available positions; and
(2) if the private school provides a prekindergarten
program, require that the private school comply with:
(A) the standards for certification of
effectiveness of the school readiness certification system adopted
under Section 29.161; and
(B) any additional standards the district
determines appropriate.
(h) The agency shall contract with the State Center for
Early Childhood Development for the center to provide technical
assistance to a private school to assist the entity as necessary in
meeting the standards required by Subsection (g)(2). The center
shall charge the private school an amount equal to the actual costs
of delivering the technical assistance.
(i) The commissioner shall adopt rules as necessary to
administer this section.
SECTION 2. (a) The changes in law made by this Act apply
beginning with the 2016-2017 school year.
(b) The commissioner of education shall adopt rules to
implement Section 29.1535, Education Code, as added by this Act,
beginning with the 2016-2017 school year.
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, 2015.