SRC-SLL, SLL, DPW S.B. 955 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterS.B. 955
By: Bivins
Education
8/16/1999
Enrolled


DIGEST 

Last session, Governor George W. Bush launched the Texas Reading
Initiative.  The Ready to Read Initiative complements the Texas Reading
Initiative by targeting low-income preschool children and equipping them
with pre-reading skills needed for long-term academic success.  This bill
establishes a competitive grant program designed to allow a public or
private preschool to provide scientific, research-based pre-reading
instruction designed to improve a student's pre-reading skills and also to
identify cost-effective models for pre-reading instruction. 

PURPOSE

As enrolled, S.B. 955 requires the commissioner of education to make grants
in support of prereading instruction. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is granted to the commissioner of education in SECTION
1 (Sections 29.155(c) and (f), Chapter 29E, Education Code) of this bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 29E, Education Code, by adding Section 29.155, as
follows: 

Sec. 29.155. READY TO READ GRANTS. Requires the commissioner of education
(commissioner) to make grants in support of pre-reading instruction.
Requires the commissioner to establish a competitive grant program for the
distribution of at least 95 percent of the available appropriated funds.
Requires grants to be used to provide prereading instruction for certain
purposes.  Requires the commissioner to distribute grants to be used for
certain purposes in amounts no less than $50,000 and no more than $150,000.
Provides that public schools operating prekindergarten programs or other
eligible entities as defined in Section 12.101(a), Education Code, that
meet qualifications prescribed by the commissioner, and have a student body
of which 75 percent of students enrolled are lowincome students as
determined by rule of the commissioner, are eligible to apply for a grant.
Requires the commissioner to develop and implement performance measures
which must correlate with other reading assessments used in public schools
for kindergarten through the second grade, for evaluating the effectiveness
of grants under this section.  Authorizes the commissioner to adopt rules
for the administration of this section.  

SECTION 2.  Amends Title 3B, Human Resources Code, by adding Chapter 72, as
follows: 

CHAPTER 72.  HEAD START PROGRAMS

Sec.  72.001.  DEFINITION.  Defines "Head Start program."

Sec.  72.002.  EDUCATIONAL SERVICES.  Requires a Head Start program
provider (provider) to provide educational services to children
participating in the Head Start program (program) so that each child is
prepared to enter school and is ready to learn after completing the
program.  Requires the educational services provided to include components
designed to provide a child with certain skills.    
 
SECTION 3. Requires the commissioner of education to administer the grant
program in a manner consistent with other reading programs identified as
components of the governor's reading program. 

SECTION 4. Effective date for Section 29.155, Education Code, as added by
this Act: September 1, 1999. 

SECTION 5. Emergency clause.
           Effective date: 90 days after adjournment.