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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a pilot program to provide grants for free or |
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reduced-tuition prekindergarten classes to certain children. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter E, Chapter 29, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 29.1535 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 29.1535. FREE AND REDUCED-TUITION PREKINDERGARTEN |
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GRANT PILOT PROGRAM. (a) From money appropriated or otherwise |
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available for the purpose, the commissioner, in collaboration with |
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the Pre-K 4 SA early childhood initiative, shall establish and |
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administer a pilot program to provide grants to school districts, |
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open-enrollment charter schools, and private schools to provide |
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free or reduced-tuition prekindergarten classes to eligible |
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children. |
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(b) A school district, open-enrollment charter school, or |
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private school shall use money received under the pilot program to |
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provide free or reduced-tuition prekindergarten classes to |
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eligible children. |
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(c) A child is eligible to enroll in a prekindergarten class |
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described by Subsection (b) if the child: |
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(1) is at least three years of age; and |
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(2) resides in the regional boundaries of the Region |
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20 education service center. |
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(d) To the extent consistent with state and federal law, a |
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prekindergarten class provided using money received under the pilot |
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program must be operated in accordance with any curriculum and |
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teaching methods implemented by the Pre-K 4 SA early childhood |
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initiative. |
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(e) Not later than September 1 of each year, the |
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commissioner shall prepare and submit to the legislature a report |
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on the pilot program under this section. The report must include: |
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(1) an evaluation of the academic and developmental |
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achievements of students enrolled in a prekindergarten class using |
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money received under the pilot program; and |
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(2) any recommendations for legislative or other |
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action. |
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(f) The commissioner shall adopt rules as necessary to |
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establish and administer the pilot program under this section. |
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(g) The pilot program is abolished and this section expires |
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January 1, 2031. |
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SECTION 2. Not later than September 1, 2026, the |
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commissioner of education shall submit the initial report required |
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by Section 29.1535, Education Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act applies beginning with the 2025-2026 |
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school year. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |