H.B. 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 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 the academies are operated by eligible professionals who meet specific experience and performance criteria.

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. The legislation also amends existing sections of the Education Code to clarify funding mechanisms for students enrolled in the program and to ensure that the academies are subject only to relevant federal and state laws. The bill emphasizes the importance of community interest and a viable business plan in the charter granting process, while also allowing for periodic updates to funding entitlements based on actual student counts.

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