One of the biggest legislative priorities for school districts across the state involved funding for online learning, but nothing was approved when the general session wrapped up in May. 

However, that all changed with the completion of the most recent special session and the passage of senate bill 15. 

A bill providing funding for school districts that offered online learning due to pandemic-related concerns stalled out before it could get to Governor Greg Abbott’s desk for a signature in May. 

However, it was part of the most recently concluded special session with senate bill 15, which provides money to school districts with online programs. This bill has been signed by Abbott.

The bill went into effect immediately but there are some conditions that school districts must meet, for example, districts must have received a C rating or high in the most recent round of state academic accountability grades in order to offer remote learning.

Additionally, enrollment will be capped at 10% of a district’s overall enrollment and districts will not receive funding for virtual students who failed their STAAR exams from the 2020-2021 school year, virtual students who missed 10% or more of class, or those who did not get a grade of C, or better, in core classes last year. 

No word yet on what any of this means for Frisco ISD, but the district is expected to release more information on Friday.