Texas § ED.26.0031 - RIGHTS CONCERNING VIRTUAL AND HYBRID COURSES

§ ED.26.0031. RIGHTS CONCERNING VIRTUAL AND HYBRID COURSES

RIGHTS CONCERNING VIRTUAL AND HYBRID COURSES. (a) At the time and in the manner that a school district or open-enrollment charter school informs students and parents about courses that are offered in the district's or school's traditional classroom setting, the district or school shall notify parents and students of the option to enroll in a virtual or hybrid course offered by the district or school in which the student is enrolled or by another district or school under Chapter 30B . (b) Except as provided by Subsection (c), a school district or open-enrollment charter school in which a student is enrolled as a full-time student may not deny the request of a parent of a student to enroll the student in a virtual or hybrid course offered by the district or school in which the student is enrolled or by another district or school under Chapter 30B . (b-1) A school district or open-enrollment charter school may not actively discourage a student, including by threat or intimidation, from enrolling in a virtual or hybrid course. (c) A school district or open-enrollment charter school may deny a request to enroll a student in a virtual or hybrid course if: (1) a student attempts to enroll in a course load that is inconsistent with the student's high school graduation plan or requirements for college admission or earning an industry certification; (2) the student requests permission to enroll in a virtual or hybrid course at a time that is not consistent with the enrollment period established by the school district or open-enrollment charter school providing the course; or (3) the district or school determines that the cost of the course is too high. (c-1) A school district or open-enrollment charter school may decline to pay the cost for a student of more than three yearlong virtual courses, or the equivalent, during any school year. This subsection does not: (1) limit the ability of the student to enroll in additional virtual courses at the student's cost; or (2) apply to a student enrolled in a full-time virtual program. (d) Notwithstanding Subsection (c)(2), a school district or open-enrollment charter school that provides a virtual or hybrid course under Chapter 30B shall make all reasonable efforts to accommodate the enrollment of a student in the course under special circumstances. (e) A school district or open-enrollment charter school that denies a request to enroll a student in a virtual or hybrid course under Subsection (c) must provide a written explanation of the denial to the student and the student's parent. The written explanation must provide notice of the student's ability to appeal the decision and an explanation of the appeal process, including the process of pursuing a final appeal heard by the board of trustees of the district or the governing board of the school. A determination made by the board of trustees of the school district or the governing board of the open-enrollment charter school under this subsection is final and may not be appealed. (f) Repealed by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 5 (S.B. 569 ), Sec. 14(1), eff. May 6, 2025. Added by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1337 (S.B. 1788 ), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2007. Amended by: Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1386 (H.B. 1926 ), Sec. 1, eff. June 14, 2013. Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 5 (S.B. 569 ), Sec. 4, eff. May 6, 2025. Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 5 (S.B. 569 ), Sec. 5, eff. May 6, 2025. Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 5 (S.B. 569 ), Sec. 14(1), eff. May 6, 2025.