HB1149 - Relating to the scheduling of the first day of school for students by school districts.

  89R3631 RDR-F     By: Morales Shaw H.B. No. 1149       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the scheduling of the first day of school for students   by school districts.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 12A.003(b), Education Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (b)  A local innovation plan must:                (1)  provide for a comprehensive educational program   for the district, which program may include:                      (A)  innovative curriculum, instructional   methods, and provisions regarding community participation, campus   governance, and parental involvement;                      (B)   except as provided by Section 12A.004(a),     modifications to the school day or year;                      (C)  provisions regarding the district budget and   sustainable program funding;                      (D)  accountability and assessment measures that   exceed the requirements of state and federal law; and                      (E)  any other innovations prescribed by the board   of trustees; and                (2)  identify requirements imposed by this code that   inhibit the goals of the plan and from which the district should be   exempted on adoption of the plan, subject to Section 12A.004.          SECTION 2.  Section 12A.004(a), Education Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (a)  A local innovation plan may not provide for the   exemption of a district designated as a district of innovation from   the following provisions of this title:                (1)  a state or federal requirement applicable to an   open-enrollment charter school operating under Subchapter D,   Chapter 12;                (2)  Subchapters A, C, D, and E, Chapter 11, except that   a district may be exempt from Sections 11.1511(b)(5) and (14) and   Section 11.162;                (3)  state curriculum and graduation requirements   adopted under Chapter 28; [ and ]                (4)  academic and financial accountability and   sanctions under Chapters 39 and 39A ; and                 (5)     the first day of instruction requirements under   Section 25.0811 .          SECTION 3.  Section 25.0811(a), Education Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (a)  Except as provided by this section, a school district   may not begin instruction for students for a school year before [ the   fourth Monday in ] August 1 . A school district may[ :                [ (1) ]  begin instruction for students for a school year   before [ the fourth Monday in ] August 1 if the district operates a   year-round system under Section 25.084[ ; or                [ (2)     begin instruction for students for a school year   on or after the first Monday in August at a campus or at not more   than 20 percent of the campuses in the district if:                      [ (A)     the district has a student enrollment of   190,000 or more;                      [ (B)     the district at the beginning of the school   year provides, financed with local funds, days of instruction for   students at the campus or at each of the multiple campuses, in   addition to the minimum number of days of instruction required   under Section 25.081;                      [ (C)     the campus or each of the multiple campuses   are undergoing comprehensive reform, as determined by the board of   trustees of the district; and                      [ (D)     a majority of the students at the campus or   at each of the multiple campuses are educationally disadvantaged ].          SECTION 4.  This Act applies beginning with the 2026-2027   school year.          SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.