APPLICABILITY OF LAWS AND RULES TO HOME-RULE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

(a) A home-rule school district is subject to federal and state laws and rules governing school districts, except that a home-rule school district is subject to:

(1) this code only to the extent that the applicability to a home-rule school district of a provision of this code is specifically provided;

(2) a rule adopted under this code by the State Board of Education or the commissioner only if the code provision authorizing the rule specifically applies to a home-rule school district; and

(3) all requirements of federal law and applicable court orders relating to eligibility for and the provision of special education and bilingual programs.

(b) An employee of a home-rule school district who qualifies for membership in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas shall be covered under the system in the same manner and to the same extent as a qualified employee employed by an independent school district is covered.

(c) This section does not permit a home-rule school district to discriminate against a student who has been diagnosed as having a learning disability, including dyslexia or attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Discrimination prohibited by this subsection includes denial of placement in a gifted and talented program if the student would otherwise be qualified for the program but for the student's learning disability. This section does not permit a home-rule school district to, on the basis of race, socioeconomic status, learning disability, or family support status, place a student in a program other than the highest-level program necessary to ensure the student's success.