AUSTIN, Texas (AP) _ The Texas Senate’s Education Committee has approved a plan to expand charter schools in Texas.
The measure would allow the State Board of Education to authorize 10 new open-enrollment charter schools a year. The new law would also allow existing charter schools to add new campuses without requesting approval.
The bill was authored by state Sen. Dan Patrick, a Houston Republican. Current law limits the number of charter schools to 215. The Texas Legislature authorized charter schools in 1995 to operate with fewer legal restrictions than regular public schools to allow for innovation.
The new measure would also allow the State Board of Education to authorize an unlimited number of charter schools focused on educating children with disabilities.
The bill now goes to the full Senate for a vote.