By Garcia H.B. No. 1294
77R2592 CAS-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to public school prekindergarten programs.
1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 SECTION 1. Section 29.153, Education Code, is amended to
1-5 read as follows:
1-6 Sec. 29.153. PREKINDERGARTEN. (a) Each [Any] school
1-7 district [may offer prekindergarten classes, but a district] shall
1-8 offer prekindergarten classes to [if the district identifies 15 or
1-9 more eligible] children who are at least four years of age on
1-10 September 1 of the school year. [A school district may offer
1-11 prekindergarten classes if the district identifies 15 or more
1-12 eligible children who are at least three years of age.]
1-13 (b) [A child is eligible for enrollment in a prekindergarten
1-14 class if the child is at least three years of age and is:]
1-15 [(1) unable to speak and comprehend the English
1-16 language;]
1-17 [(2) educationally disadvantaged; or]
1-18 [(3) homeless, as defined by 42 U.S.C. Section 11302,
1-19 regardless of the residence of the child, of either parent of the
1-20 child, or of the child's guardian or other person having lawful
1-21 control of the child.]
1-22 [(c)] A prekindergarten class shall be operated on a
1-23 half-day basis. A district is not required to provide
1-24 transportation for a prekindergarten class, but transportation, if
2-1 provided, is included for funding purposes as part of the regular
2-2 transportation system.
2-3 (c) [(d) On application of a district, the commissioner may
2-4 exempt a district from the application of this section if the
2-5 district would be required to construct classroom facilities in
2-6 order to provide prekindergarten classes.]
2-7 [(e) Each school district shall develop a system to notify
2-8 the population in the district with children who are eligible for
2-9 enrollment in a prekindergarten class of the availability of the
2-10 class. The system must include public notices issued in English
2-11 and Spanish.]
2-12 [(f)] A district's prekindergarten program shall be designed
2-13 to develop skills necessary for success in the regular public
2-14 school curriculum, including language, mathematics, and social
2-15 skills.
2-16 (d) [(g)] If a school district contracts with a private
2-17 entity for the operation of the district's prekindergarten program,
2-18 the program must at a minimum comply with the applicable child-care
2-19 licensing standards adopted by the Department of Protective and
2-20 Regulatory Services under Section 42.042, Human Resources Code.
2-21 SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2001-2002
2-22 school year.
2-23 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
2-24 a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
2-25 provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
2-26 Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
2-27 Act takes effect September 1, 2001.