TX HB2396

Students under 21 who are eligible for enrollment may apply to transfer to any public school in Texas that offers their grade level and has capacity, eliminating the previous requirement for both districts to jointly approve transfers in writing

School districts must determine and publish campus and grade-level capacity quarterly (January, April, July, October), with the Texas Education Agency maintaining a statewide database of capacity information and transfer policies

When transfer applications exceed capacity, districts must use a lottery system with priority given to students who reside in the district, siblings of current students, students at the nearest campus to their home, special education students, foster children, and children of campus employees

Districts may only deny transfer applications if the campus is at capacity or if the student is currently expelled, suspended, placed in a disciplinary alternative education program, or facing disciplinary proceedings that could result in expulsion or suspension

The Texas Education Agency must annually audit 10% of school districts' capacity determinations and transfer decisions, publish annual transfer reports by March 15, and conduct a comprehensive statewide transfer trends study every six years beginning by September 1, 2031