SRC-MKV S.B. 596 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 596 77R1583 BDH-DBy: Duncan Education 2/22/2001 As Filed DIGEST AND PURPOSE Currently, Texas funds half-day pre-kindergarten programs for eligible students. A recent attorney general opinion prohibits school districts from offering tuition-based pre-kindergarten programs for children not eligible for the state-funded programs. S.B. 596 allows school districts, on a voluntary basis, to offer tuition-based pre-kindergarten programs to students not eligible for the state-funded program. This bill also requires the Texas Education Agency to include all state and federally funded pre-kindergarten programs in its Public Information Management System data collection and District Effectiveness and Compliance monitoring. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 29E, Education Code, by amending Section 29.153 and adding Sections 29.1531 and 29.1532, as follows: Sec. 29.153. New heading: FREE PREKINDERGARTEN FOR CERTAIN CHILDREN. (a) Prohibits a district from charging tuition for a prekindergarten class offered under this section. Deletes language stating that any school district may offer prekindergarten classes. Adds language regarding children eligible under Subsection (b). (b) Adds language regarding a child eligible under this section and makes a conforming change. (c) Makes a conforming change. (e) Makes a conforming change. Sec. 29.1531. TUITION-SUPPORTED PREKINDERGARTEN. (a) Authorizes a school district to offer on a tuition basis an additional half-day of prekindergarten classes to children eligible for classes under Section 29.153 and half-day and full-day prekindergarten classes to children not eligible under Section 29.153. (b) Prohibits a district that offers a prekindergarten program on a tuition basis from adopting a tuition rate for the program that is higher than necessary to cover the added costs of providing the program. Sec. 29.1532. PREKINDERGARTEN PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS. (c) Requires a school district that offers prekindergarten classes to include certain information in the district's Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS) report. SECTION 2. Amends Section 29.154, Education Code, to require the Texas Education Agency (agency), in cooperation with the Texas Department of Human Services, federal Head Start programs, and other providers of prekindergarten programs in this state receiving state and federal funds, to develop indicators for the evaluation of prekindergarten programs. Requires the agency, using the indicators adopted under this subsection, to review all school district prekindergarten programs that receive state or federal funds. Requires a review under this subsection to be performed as part of the accreditation review of the district under Chapter 39D. SECTION 3. Provides that this Act applies beginning with the 2001-2002 school year. SECTION 4. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2001.