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.