APPLICATION.

(a) The commissioner shall adopt:

(1) an application form and a procedure that must be used to apply for a charter for an open-enrollment charter school; and

(2) criteria to use in selecting a program for which to grant a charter.

(b) The application form must provide for including the information required under Section 12.111 to be contained in a charter.

(c) As part of the application procedure, the commissioner may require a petition supporting a charter for a school signed by a specified number of parents or guardians of school-age children residing in the area in which a school is proposed or may hold a public hearing to determine parental support for the school.

(d) The commissioner shall approve or deny an application based on:

(1) documented evidence collected through the application review process;

(2) merit; and

(3) other criteria as adopted by the commissioner, which must include:

(A) criteria relating to the capability of the applicant to carry out the responsibilities provided by the charter and the likelihood that the applicant will operate a school of high quality;

(B) criteria relating to improving student performance and encouraging innovative programs; and

(C) a statement from any school district whose enrollment is likely to be affected by the open-enrollment charter school, including information relating to any financial difficulty that a loss in enrollment may have on the district.

(e) The commissioner shall give priority to applications that propose an open-enrollment charter school campus to be located in the attendance zone of a school district campus assigned an unacceptable performance rating under Section 39.054 for the two preceding school years.