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, to the Education Code, which outlines the purpose of empowering education professionals with property rights and the ability to 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 initial funding for these academies must be secured by the education professionals themselves, with state funding becoming available only after the completion of the first full school year. It also includes provisions for public funding eligibility, requiring that students enrolled in the program qualify for funding under Chapter 48 of the Education Code. The bill amends several sections of the Education Code to facilitate the implementation of the program, including adjustments to funding calculations and the establishment of a schedule for funding after the first year of operation. The act is set to take effect immediately upon receiving a two-thirds vote from both houses or on September 1, 2025, if that threshold is not met.

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