S.B. No. 549 proposes the establishment of a fine arts allotment within the public school finance system in Texas. The bill introduces a new section, 48.116, to the Education Code, which entitles school districts to an annual allotment for each student in average daily attendance enrolled in approved fine arts education courses for grades 6 through 12. The allotment amount varies based on the student's grade level, with multipliers of 1.3 for grades 6-8, 1.2 for grades 9-10, and 1.1 for grades 11-12. The Texas Education Agency is tasked with approving the fine arts courses that qualify for this allotment, which must include subjects like music, art, theater, and dance, and require a minimum of 225 minutes of instruction per week for full-time students.

Additionally, the bill stipulates that a portion of the funds allocated must prioritize fine arts education for students in grades 6-8 who are eligible for compensatory education. Specifically, at least 25% of the funds for grades 6-8 must be directed towards these students, while 50% of the total funds must be used for fine arts courses for grades 6-8. Furthermore, at least 75% of the funds allocated for grades 9-12 must be used for fine arts education courses for those students. The agency is also required to publish an annual list of approved fine arts courses. The provisions of this act are set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: ()