85R3412 KJE-F     By: Burkett H.B. No. 480       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to open-enrollment charter schools that provide only   prekindergarten programs.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter D, Chapter 12, Education Code, is   amended by adding Section 12.1015 to read as follows:          Sec. 12.1015.  AUTHORIZATION FOR GRANT OF CHARTERS FOR   SCHOOLS PROVIDING ONLY PREKINDERGARTEN PROGRAMS. (a) The   commissioner may grant under Section 12.101 a charter on the   application of an eligible entity for an open-enrollment charter   school intended to provide only prekindergarten programs.          (b)  A charter application for an open-enrollment charter   school described by Subsection (a) may not be denied, and the   charter of an open-enrollment charter school described by   Subsection (a) may not be revoked or denied renewal, on the basis   that the school does not provide instruction to students at any   grade level at which students are assessed under Subchapter B,   Chapter 39.          (c)  The limit on the number of charters for open-enrollment   charter schools imposed by Section 12.101 does not apply to a   charter granted under this section.          (d)  For purposes of the applicability of state and federal   law, an open-enrollment charter school described by Subsection (a)   is considered the same as any other school for which a charter is   granted under Section 12.101.          (e)  The commissioner shall adopt rules as necessary to   administer this section.          SECTION 2.  Section 12.118(b), Education Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (b)  An evaluation under this section must include   consideration of the following items before implementing the   charter and after implementing the charter:                (1)  if applicable, students' scores on assessment   instruments administered under Subchapter B, Chapter 39;                (2)  student attendance;                (3)  students' grades;                (4)  incidents involving student discipline;                (5)  socioeconomic data on students' families;                (6)  parents' satisfaction with their children's   schools; and                (7)  students' satisfaction with their schools.          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, 2017.