The bill amends the Education Code to enhance the process for student transfers between public schools in Texas. It allows students who qualify for admission to enroll at the nearest campus offering their grade level, irrespective of their residential attendance zone, as long as the campus has the capacity. The bill establishes a structured process for transfer applications, requiring school districts to admit eligible students until capacity is reached and to utilize a lottery system for filling any available spots if applications exceed capacity. Additionally, districts must maintain a waiting list for applicants who are not admitted and cannot deny transfer applications solely based on capacity or disciplinary issues unless specific conditions are met.

Moreover, the bill mandates that school districts create and publicly post policies regarding student transfers and regularly report their campus capacities. It emphasizes transparency by allowing parents to appeal transfer denials and prioritizing certain applicants, such as district residents and siblings of current students. The bill also introduces new requirements for districts to submit annual reports on transfer applications and demographic data, while the Texas Education Agency is tasked with conducting audits to verify compliance. Furthermore, it modifies existing laws on public school transportation, permitting districts to operate transportation outside their boundaries under specific conditions, and sets a timeline for a study on statewide transfer trends by September 1, 2031. The act is scheduled to take effect for the 2025-2026 school year, with provisions for immediate implementation if passed by a two-thirds majority.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Education Code 25.001, Education Code 25.036, Education Code 34.007 (Education Code 25, Education Code 34)