House Bill No. 1278 proposes the establishment of a Professional Charter Academy Program in Texas, aimed at allowing highly qualified education professionals to create and operate charter academies. The bill introduces a new subchapter, Subchapter F, titled "Professional Teacher Act," which outlines the purpose of empowering education professionals to function independently and innovate educational programs tailored to their students' needs. The commissioner of education is tasked with establishing the program, adopting rules to prevent financial fraud, and ensuring that eligible education professionals meet specific criteria, such as having a minimum of five years of teaching experience or serving as a principal for at least three years.

Additionally, the bill stipulates that professional charter academies must be fully owned by eligible education professionals and are subject only to federal and state laws applicable to accredited schools. Initial funding for these academies will be the responsibility of the education professionals, with state funding becoming available only after the first full school year of operation. The bill also amends existing sections of the Education Code to include provisions for funding and estimates related to student enrollment in these academies, ensuring that they receive appropriate financial support while maintaining accountability and oversight.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Education Code 48.266 (Education Code 48)