Texas HB2040 sets a minimum instructional time requirement for juvenile justice alternative education programs.

Texas HB2040 amends the Education Code to require juvenile justice alternative education programs to provide at least 43,200 minutes of instructional time per year. This equates to seven hours per day for 180 days. Programs may apply for a waiver of this requirement, but the Texas Juvenile Justice Department cannot grant a waiver that exceeds the highest number of instructional minutes waived by the commissioner for any school district served by the program. The changes apply starting with the 2025-2026 school year.

Texas HB2040 sets a minimum instructional time requirement for juvenile justice alternative education programs.

Texas HB2040 amends the Education Code to require juvenile justice alternative education programs to provide at least 43,200 minutes of instructional time per year. This equates to seven hours per day for 180 days. Programs may apply for a waiver of this requirement, but the Texas Juvenile Justice Department cannot grant a waiver that exceeds the highest number of instructional minutes waived by the commissioner for any school district served by the program. The changes apply starting with the 2025-2026 school year.