Bill Text: TX HB51 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to limits on the size of certain classes in public schools.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-02-09 - Referred to Public Education [HB51 Detail]

Download: Texas-2015-HB51-Introduced.html

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84R2039 KKA-D
By: González H.B. No. 51

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to limits on the size of certain classes in public schools.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Sections 25.112(a), (d), and (e), Education
Code, are amended to read as follows:
(a) Except as otherwise authorized by this section, a school
district may not enroll more than 22 students in a kindergarten,
first, second, third, or fourth grade class or 28 students in a
fifth, sixth, seventh, or eighth grade class. A limit imposed by
this subsection [That limitation] does not apply during:
(1) any 12-week period of the school year selected by
the district, in the case of a district whose average daily
attendance is adjusted under Section 42.005(c); or
(2) the last 12 weeks of any school year in the case of
any other district.
(d) On application of a school district, the commissioner
may except the district from a [the] limit imposed by [in]
Subsection (a) if the commissioner finds the limit works an undue
hardship on the district. An exception expires at the end of the
school year for which it is granted.
(e) A school district seeking an exception under Subsection
(d) shall notify the commissioner and apply for the exception not
later than the later of:
(1) October 1; or
(2) the 30th day after the first school day the
district exceeds a [the] limit imposed by [in] Subsection (a).
SECTION 2. Section 25.113(a), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a) A campus or district that is granted an exception under
Section 25.112(d) from class size limits shall provide written
notice of the exception to the parent of or person standing in
parental relation to each student affected by the exception. The
notice must be in conspicuous bold or underlined print and:
(1) specify the class for which an exception from a
[the] limit imposed by Section 25.112(a) was granted;
(2) state the number of children in the class for which
the exception was granted; and
(3) be included in a regular mailing or other
communication from the campus or district, such as information sent
home with students.
SECTION 3. Subchapter E, Chapter 42, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 42.25191 to read as follows:
Sec. 42.25191. ADDITIONAL STATE AID FOR CERTAIN LIMITS ON
CLASS SIZES. (a) For each school year, from funds that may be used
for the purpose, a school district is entitled to state aid in an
amount, as determined by the commissioner, sufficient to assist the
district in complying with the limit on the number of students who
may be enrolled in a fifth, sixth, seventh, or eighth grade class
under Section 25.112.
(b) The amount of state aid to which a school district is
entitled under this section is in addition to the amount of revenue
to which the district is entitled under Section 42.2516(b). This
subsection expires September 1, 2017.
(c) The commissioner shall adopt rules as necessary to
administer this section.
SECTION 4. This Act applies beginning with the 2015-2016
school year.
SECTION 5. 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.