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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the expansion of the state virtual school network. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 30A.002(b), Education Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(b) A student is eligible to enroll full-time in courses |
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provided through the state virtual school network only if the |
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student: |
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(1) was eligible to enroll [enrolled] in a public |
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school in this state in the preceding school year; or |
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(2) has been placed in substitute care in this state, |
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regardless of whether the student was eligible to enroll [enrolled] |
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in a public school in this state in the preceding school year. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 30A, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 30A.008 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 30A.008. STATEWIDE POLICY ON ELECTRONIC COURSES. The |
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commissioner shall adopt and implement a plan that promotes and |
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provides incentives for the expansion of the state virtual school |
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network. The plan must provide for: |
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(1) an increase in the number of provider school |
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districts or schools; |
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(2) an increase in the number and types of courses that |
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are offered through the state virtual school network; and |
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(3) increased availability and access to the state |
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virtual school network for students across this state. |
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SECTION 3. Section 30A.101(a), Education Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(a) A school district or an open-enrollment charter school |
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campus is eligible to act as a provider school district or school |
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under this chapter only if the district or campus is rated |
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acceptable [or higher] under Section 39.054. |
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SECTION 4. Section 30A.107(c), Education Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(c) A student who resides in this state but who is not |
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enrolled in a school district or open-enrollment charter school in |
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this state as a full-time student may, subject to Section 30A.155, |
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enroll in electronic courses through the state virtual school |
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network. A student to whom this subsection applies: |
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(1) [may not in any semester enroll in more than two
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electronic courses offered through the state virtual school
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network;
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[(2)] is not considered to be a public school student; |
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(2) [(3)] must obtain access to a course provided |
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through the network through the school district or open-enrollment |
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charter school attendance zone in which the student resides; |
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(3) [(4)] is not entitled to enroll in a course |
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offered by a school district or open-enrollment charter school |
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other than an electronic course provided through the network; and |
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(4) [(5)] is not entitled to any right, privilege, |
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activities, or services available to a student enrolled in a public |
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school, other than the right to receive the appropriate unit of |
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credit for completing an electronic course. |
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SECTION 5. Section 30A.155, Education Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsections (b) and (c) and adding Subsection (b-1) to |
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read as follows: |
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(b) A school district or open-enrollment charter school may |
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[shall] charge a fee for enrollment in an electronic course |
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provided through the state virtual school network to a student who |
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resides in this state and is not enrolled in a school district or |
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open-enrollment charter school as a full-time student. |
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(b-1) A school district shall charge a fee for enrollment in |
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an electronic course provided through the state virtual school |
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network to a student who does not reside in the district and is not |
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enrolled in a school district or open-enrollment charter school as |
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a full-time student. |
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(c) The amount of a fee charged a student under Subsection |
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(a), (a-1), [or] (b), or (b-1) for each electronic course in which |
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the student enrolls through the state virtual school network may |
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not exceed the lesser of: |
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(1) the cost of providing the course; or |
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(2) $400. |
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SECTION 6. Section 30A.101(b), Education Code, as amended |
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by Chapters 895 (H.B. 3) and 1328 (H.B. 3646), Acts of the 81st |
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Legislature, Regular Session, 2009, is repealed. |
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SECTION 7. This Act applies beginning with the 2013-2014 |
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school year. |
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SECTION 8. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |