Senate Bill No. 686 amends the Texas Education Code to enhance the process of student transfers between public schools. It introduces a new section, 7.0611, requiring school districts to annually report detailed information about their facilities, including square footage and student capacity, which will be compiled into a public report. The bill modifies existing provisions to allow students under 21 to apply for transfers to other districts or campuses, mandating that districts admit eligible applicants until capacity is reached. In cases where applications exceed capacity, a lottery system will be implemented, prioritizing certain student groups.

The bill also includes significant deletions and insertions in current law, such as removing the requirement for a transfer agreement to be filed for audit purposes and clarifying conditions under which a transfer may be denied. It ensures that transferring students are not charged tuition and can remain at the receiving campus until they complete the highest grade offered. Additionally, the bill mandates that school districts assess and publicly post their campus capacities, adopt written policies for transfer applicants, and submit annual reports on transfer applications and demographic data. The Texas Education Agency will oversee the posting of aggregated data and conduct audits, with the new regulations set to take effect in the 2025-2026 school year.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Education Code 25.001, Education Code 25.035, Education Code 25.036 (Education Code 25)
Senate Committee Report: Education Code 25.001, Education Code 25.035, Education Code 25.036 (Education Code 25)
Engrossed: Education Code 25.001, Education Code 25.035, Education Code 25.036 (Education Code 25)