Bill Caption

Relating to academic accountability ratings for certain school districts, open-enrollment charter schools, and contracted entities that offer full-time online programs through the state virtual school network.

Fiscal Notes

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB1045, Committee Report 1st House, Substituted: a negative impact of ($345,182) through the biennium ending August 31, 2021.

The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.

Bill Analysis

SB 1045 would require public schools offering full-time virtual education programs to receive a separate accountability rating for their traditional and virtual programs. More specifically, it would require school districts that contract with an entity that to operate a full-time online program to report to the Texas Education Agency the identity of the entity and normal reporting requirements as if the program was a campus. A school district and open enrollment charter school would be required to revoke a contract if the vendor receives an accountability rating of D or F for the three previous school years. That vendor would be prohibited from accepting a new contract for the 10 years following a contract revocation. 

Vote Recommendation Notes

Texas Action remains neutral on SB 1045 because it does not appear to affect our liberty principles. However, this does appear to be sound public policy.