Requires districts to adopt a healthy and safe school water plan, which must include provisions for periodic lead testing and reducing exposure to elevated levels of lead in school water sources. If testing results show lead levels of more than 15 ppb, the district must restrict access to the water source within 48 hours of learning of the results, and must mitigate the source of the contamination. A subsequent test must show a level of less than 15 ppb before access is restored.

Makes the commissioner of education an elected position for a 4-year term.

Allows charter schools to participate in the existing Jobs and Education for Texans (JET) Grant Program, which is currently limited to junior colleges, technical institutes, state colleges and ISDs.

Requires the TRS Board to consider a CPI-indexed increase to retirement benefits on an annual basis, to the extent that the retirement system is actuarially sound and has money available to pay the increased benefits. If sound but the full benefit is not affordable, the Board will adjust the amount of the increase accordingly. Begins with benefits paid on or after Jan. 1, 2022.

Provides that a principal or campus behavior coordinator (public, private or charter) who suspects a student of harmful or illegal conduct that poses a serious threat to the student or other students can, with parental permission, search the student and his/her possessions for evidence. Upon consent, the principal or CBC can conduct the search with assistance of a district police officer. Any illegal item or substance confiscated must be immediately delivered to local law enforcement.

Provides that state nepotism limits do not apply to the employment of a classroom teacher by a district in a subject area or geographic area certified by the commissioner as experiencing a critical teacher shortage.

Requires the secretary of state to provide registration application forms to high schools at least once per year.