School districts, charter schools, and higher education institutions must participate in an electronic student records system that meets approved standards, and some users may transfer and retrieve student transcripts through it.
Sec. 7.010. ELECTRONIC STUDENT RECORDS SYSTEM. (a) In this section, "institution of higher education" has the meaning assigned by Section 61.003. (b) Each school district, open-enrollment charter school, and institution of higher education shall participate in an electronic student records system that satisfies standards approved by the commissioner of education and the commissioner of higher education. (c) The electronic student records system must permit an authorized state or district official or an authorized representative of an institution of higher education to electronically transfer to and from an educational institution in which the student is enrolled and retrieve student transcripts, including information concerning a student's: (1) course or grade completion; (2) teachers of record; (3) assessment instrument results; (4) receipt of special education services, including placement in a special education program and the individualized education program developed; and (5) personal graduation plan as described by Section 28.0212 or 28.02121, as applicable. (d) The commissioner of education or the commissioner of higher education may solicit and accept grant funds to maintain the electronic student records system and to make the system available to school districts, open-enrollment charter schools, and institutions of higher education. (e) A private or independent institution of higher education, as defined by Section 61.003, may participate in the electronic student records system under this section. If a private or independent institution of higher education elects to participate, the institution must provide the funding to participate in the system. (f) Any person involved in the transfer and retrieval of student information under this section is subject to any state or federal law governing the release of or providing access to any confidential information to the same extent as the educational institution from which the data is collected. A person may not release or distribute the data to any other person in a form that contains confidential information. Added by Acts 2006, 79th Leg., 3rd C.S., Ch. 5 (H.B. 1), Sec. 3.01, eff. May 31, 2006. Amended by: Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 211 (H.B. 5), Sec. 1(a), eff. June 10, 2013.