SB2942 - Relating to certain charter school programs and students.

      By: Creighton S.B. No. 2942               A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to certain charter school programs and students.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 12.252, Education Code, is amended by   adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:           (c)     In matters related to operation of a charter school   under this subchapter, a charter school or charter holder is immune   from liability and suit to the same extent as a school district, and   the employees and volunteers of the charter school or charter   holder are immune from liability and suit to the same extent as   school district employees and volunteers.   A member of the   governing body of a charter school or of a charter holder governed   by this chapter is immune from liability and suit to the same extent   as a school district trustee.          SECTION 2.  Section 12.258(a), Education Code is amended to   read as follows:          (a)  A person who is at least 18 years of age and not more   than 60 [ 50 ] years of age is eligible to enroll in an adult   education program operated under a charter granted under this   subchapter if the person:                (1)  has failed to complete the curriculum requirements   for high school graduation; or                (2)  has failed to perform satisfactorily on an   assessment instrument required for high school graduation.          SECTION 3.  Section 12.260, Education Code, is amended by   adding Subsection (b-1) to read as follows:           (b-1)     Notwithstanding Subsection (b), a student enrolled in   an adult education program operated by an entity described by   Section 12.256(1)(D) or by a partnering nonprofit entity is   eligible for receipt of a high school diploma under this subchapter   if the student performs satisfactorily on an assessment instrument   prescribed by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board under   Section 130.455, provided that the student meets all other   applicable requirements for receipt of a diploma.          SECTION 4.  Section 12.261(b), Education Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (b)  An expansion amendment submitted under Subsection (a)   is considered approved if the commissioner does not provide written   notice to the eligible entity of the disapproval of the expansion   amendment on or before the 30th day following receipt of the   amendment [ August 1 ].          SECTION 5.  Section 12.262(b), Education Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (b)  The commissioner shall include in the accountability   framework adopted under Subsection (a) performance domains that   measure:                (1)  academic growth;                (2)  career readiness; and                (3)  [ one-year post-graduation and longitudinal   postsecondary outcomes;                [ (4) longitudinal wage and career growth; and                [ (5) ] operational performance.          SECTION 6.  Sections 12.263(b), (e), and (f), Education   Code, are amended to read as follows:          (b)  For purposes of determining the average daily   attendance of an adult education program operated under a charter   granted under this subchapter, a student is considered to be in   average daily attendance, with a 100 percent attendance rate, for:          (1)  all of the instructional days of the school year, if the   student is enrolled for at least 75 percent of the school year;          (2)   three-quarters [ half ] of the instructional days of the   school year, if the student is enrolled for at least 50 percent but   less than 75 percent of the school year;          (3)   half [ a quarter ] of the instructional days of the school   year, if the student is enrolled for at least 25 percent but less   than 50 percent of the school year; or          (4)   a quarter [ one-tenth ] of the instructional days of the   school year, if the student is enrolled for at least 10 percent but   less than 25 percent of the school year.          (e)  For purposes of the college, career, or military   readiness outcomes bonus under Section 48.110, notwithstanding   Subsection (f) of that section, an annual graduate of an adult   education program operated under a charter granted under this   subchapter demonstrates career readiness by earning an   industry-accepted certificate not later than six months after   completing the program.   The commissioner must make a bonus payment   under this section not later than the end of the six-week period   following the graduate's demonstration of career readiness, or a   shorter period if the commissioner determines that available data   accurately reflects the graduate's career readiness.          (f)  In addition to funding provided under Subsection (a), an   eligible entity granted a charter under this subchapter is entitled   to receive for the adult education program an annual allotment,   provided in accordance with a schedule established by commissioner   rule, equal to the maximum basic allotment under Section 48.051(a)   or (b) multiplied by:                (1)  for each credit earned by a student enrolled in the   adult education program during the preceding six-week period, or a   shorter period determined to be reasonable by the commissioner     [ school year ]:                      (A)   0.025 [ 0.01 ] for a course other than a career   and technology education course; and                      (B)   0.05 [ 0.02 ] for a career and technology   education course; and                (2)   0.2 [ 0.1 ] for each student who successfully   completed the adult education program and earned a high school   diploma during the preceding six-week period, or a shorter period   determined to be reasonable by the commissioner  [ school year ].          SECTION 7.  Section 12.264(b), Education Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (b)  From any gifts, grants, or donations appropriated or   otherwise available to the commissioner for the purpose, the   commissioner shall provide to an eligible entity granted a charter   under this subchapter funding for costs associated   with  establishing a new campus for  an adult education program   operated under  this subchapter not later than the 45th day after   the date the charter is granted  or a charter holder notifies the   commissioner of a decision to replicate its adult education program   at a new campus .  An entity is only eligible to receive funding under   this section for a new campus if that campus has a minimum   enrollment capacity of at least 200 students, except that an entity   is also eligible to receive a one-time allotment of funding under   this section if it establishes multiple campuses with an aggregate   enrollment capacity of at least 200 students.          SECTION 8.  (a) A student is entitled to the benefits of the   Foundation School Program if, on September 1 of the school year, the   student:                (1)  is 5 years of age or older and under 21 years of age   and has not graduated from high school, or is at least 21 years of   age and under 26 years of age and has been admitted by a school   district to complete the requirements for a high school diploma; or                (2)  is at least 18 years of age and under 60 [ 50 ] years   of age and is enrolled in an adult education program provided under   the adult high school charter school program under Subchapter G,   Chapter 12.          SECTION 9.  Section 48.005(j), Education Code is amended to   read as follows:          (j)  A district or charter school is eligible to earn full   average daily attendance under Subsection (a) if the district or   school provides at least 43,200 minutes of instructional time to   students enrolled in:                (1)  a dropout recovery school or program operating   under Section 12.1141(c) or Section 39.0548;                (2)  an alternative education program operating under   Section 37.008;                (3)  a school program located at a day treatment   facility, residential treatment facility, psychiatric hospital, or   medical hospital; or                (4)  a school program offered at a correctional   facility [ ; or          [ (5) a school operating under Subchapter G, Chapter 12 ].          SECTION 10.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.