87R5900 KJE-D     By: Paxton S.B. No. 1695       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to online courses and programs offered by a public school,   including courses and programs offered through the state virtual   school network.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter Z, Chapter 29, Education Code, is   amended by adding Section 29.9091 to read as follows:          Sec. 29.9091.  ONLINE COURSES. (a) A school district or   open-enrollment charter school may develop online courses outside   the state virtual school network under Chapter 30A to be offered to   students enrolled in the district or school.          (b)  A school district or open-enrollment charter school is   entitled to funding under Chapter 48 or in accordance with the terms   of a charter granted under Section 12.101 for the student's   enrollment in an online course in the same manner that the district   or school is entitled to funding for the student's enrollment in   courses in a traditional classroom setting.          (c)  The commissioner shall adopt rules regarding attendance   accounting for courses offered under this section.          SECTION 2.  Subchapter C, Chapter 30A, Education Code, is   amended by adding Section 30A.1011 to read as follows:          Sec. 30A.1011.  FULL-TIME ONLINE PROGRAM. A school district   or open-enrollment charter school may operate a full-time online   program through the state virtual school network if the district or   school is eligible to act as a course provider under Section   30A.101.          SECTION 3.  Section 30A.103(d), Education Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (d)  The criteria must be in place at least six months before   [the administering authority uses] the criteria is used in   evaluating an electronic course under Section 30A.105 or 30A.1053.          SECTION 4.  The heading to Section 30A.105, Education Code,   is amended to read as follows:          Sec. 30A.105.  APPROVAL OF ELECTRONIC COURSES BY   ADMINISTERING AUTHORITY.          SECTION 5.  Sections 30A.105(a), (b), and (c), Education   Code, are amended to read as follows:          (a)  Subject to Section 30A.1053, the [The] administering   authority shall:                (1)  establish a submission and approval process for   electronic courses that occurs on a rolling basis; and                (2)  evaluate electronic courses to be offered through   the state virtual school network.          (b)  The administering authority shall establish the cost of   providing an electronic course approved under Subsection (a) or   Section 30A.1053, which may not exceed $400 per student per course   or $4,800 per full-time student.          (c)  The agency shall pay the reasonable costs of evaluating   and approving electronic courses under this section. If funds   available to the agency for that purpose are insufficient to pay the   costs of evaluating and approving all electronic courses submitted   for evaluation and approval, the agency shall give priority to   paying the costs of evaluating and approving the following courses:                (1)  courses that satisfy high school graduation   requirements;                (2)  courses that would likely benefit a student in   obtaining admission to a postsecondary institution;                (3)  courses, including dual credit courses, that allow   a student to earn college credit or other advanced credit;                (4)  courses in subject areas most likely to be highly   beneficial to students receiving educational services under the   supervision of a juvenile probation department, the Texas Juvenile   Justice Department, or the Texas Department of Criminal Justice;   and                (5)  courses in subject areas designated by the   commissioner as commonly experiencing a shortage of teachers.          SECTION 6.  Subchapter C, Chapter 30A, Education Code, is   amended by adding Section 30A.1053 to read as follows:          Sec. 30A.1053.  APPROVAL OF ELECTRONIC COURSES BY DISTRICT   OR SCHOOL. (a) A school district or open-enrollment charter school   that is eligible to act as a course provider under Section 30A.101   may establish a process by which the district or school evaluates   and approves electronic courses developed by the district or school   to be offered through the state virtual school network.          (b)  A process established under Subsection (a) must require   an electronic course to comply with the requirements under Sections   30A.103 and 30A.104.          (c)  The agency shall review each electronic course approved   by a school district or open-enrollment charter school under this   section to ensure that the course meets minimum accessibility   standards, as established by commissioner rule.          (d)  The administering authority shall include in the state   virtual school network electronic courses approved by a school   district or open-enrollment charter school and reviewed by the   agency under this section.          SECTION 7.  Section 30A.153(a), Education Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (a)  A [Subject to the limitation imposed under Subsection   (a-1), a] school district or open-enrollment charter school in   which a student is enrolled is entitled to funding under Chapter 48   or in accordance with the terms of a charter granted under Section   12.101 for the student's enrollment in an electronic course offered   through the state virtual school network in the same manner that the   district or school is entitled to funding for the student's   enrollment in courses provided in a traditional classroom setting,   provided that the student successfully completes the electronic   course.          SECTION 8.  The following provisions of the Education Code   are repealed:                (1)  Section 26.0031(c-1); and                (2)  Section 30A.153(a-1).          SECTION 9.  This Act applies beginning with the 2021-2022   school year.          SECTION 10.  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.