1-1 By: Duncan, Lindsay S.B. No. 596
1-2 (In the Senate - Filed February 8, 2001; February 12, 2001,
1-3 read first time and referred to Committee on Education;
1-4 March 26, 2001, reported adversely, with favorable Committee
1-5 Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 8, Nays 0; March 26, 2001,
1-6 sent to printer.)
1-7 COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 596 By: Sibley
1-8 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-9 AN ACT
1-10 relating to prekindergarten programs for public school students.
1-11 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-12 SECTION 1. Subchapter E, Chapter 29, Education Code, is
1-13 amended by amending Section 29.153 and adding Sections 29.1531 and
1-14 29.1532 to read as follows:
1-15 Sec. 29.153. FREE PREKINDERGARTEN FOR CERTAIN CHILDREN.
1-16 (a) A [Any school district may offer prekindergarten classes, but
1-17 a] district shall offer prekindergarten classes if the district
1-18 identifies 15 or more [eligible] children who are eligible under
1-19 Subsection (b) and are at least four years of age. A school
1-20 district may offer prekindergarten classes if the district
1-21 identifies 15 or more eligible children who are at least three
1-22 years of age. A district may not charge tuition for a
1-23 prekindergarten class offered under this section.
1-24 (b) A child is eligible for enrollment in a prekindergarten
1-25 class under this section if the child is at least three years of
1-26 age and is:
1-27 (1) unable to speak and comprehend the English
1-28 language;
1-29 (2) educationally disadvantaged; or
1-30 (3) homeless, as defined by 42 U.S.C. Section 11302,
1-31 regardless of the residence of the child, of either parent of the
1-32 child, or of the child's guardian or other person having lawful
1-33 control of the child.
1-34 (c) A prekindergarten class under this section shall be
1-35 operated on a half-day basis. A district is not required to
1-36 provide transportation for a prekindergarten class, but
1-37 transportation, if provided, is included for funding purposes as
1-38 part of the regular transportation system.
1-39 (d) On application of a district, the commissioner may
1-40 exempt a district from the application of this section if the
1-41 district would be required to construct classroom facilities in
1-42 order to provide prekindergarten classes.
1-43 (e) Each school district shall develop a system to notify
1-44 the population in the district with children who are eligible for
1-45 enrollment in a prekindergarten class under this section of the
1-46 availability of the class. The system must include public notices
1-47 issued in English and Spanish.
1-48 Sec. 29.1531. TUITION-SUPPORTED AND DISTRICT-FINANCED
1-49 PREKINDERGARTEN. (a) A school district may offer on a tuition
1-50 basis or use district funds to provide:
1-51 (1) an additional half-day of prekindergarten classes
1-52 to children eligible for classes under Section 29.153; and
1-53 (2) half-day and full-day prekindergarten classes to
1-54 children not eligible for classes under Section 29.153.
1-55 (b) A district that offers a prekindergarten program on a
1-56 tuition basis:
1-57 (1) may not adopt a tuition rate for the program that
1-58 is higher than necessary to cover the added costs of providing the
1-59 program, including any costs associated with collecting, reporting,
1-60 and analyzing data under Section 29.1532(c); and
1-61 (2) must submit the proposed tuition rate to the
1-62 commissioner for approval.
1-63 Sec. 29.1532. PREKINDERGARTEN PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS.
1-64 (a) [(f)] A school district's prekindergarten program shall be
2-1 designed to develop skills necessary for success in the regular
2-2 public school curriculum, including language, mathematics, and
2-3 social skills.
2-4 (b) [(g)] If a school district contracts with a private
2-5 entity for the operation of the district's prekindergarten program,
2-6 the program must at a minimum comply with the applicable child-care
2-7 licensing standards adopted by the Department of Protective and
2-8 Regulatory Services under Section 42.042, Human Resources Code.
2-9 (c) A school district that offers prekindergarten classes
2-10 shall include the following information in the district's Public
2-11 Education Information Management System (PEIMS) report:
2-12 (1) demographic information, as determined by the
2-13 commissioner, on students enrolled in district prekindergarten
2-14 classes, including the number of students who are eligible for
2-15 classes under Section 29.153;
2-16 (2) the numbers of half-day and full-day
2-17 prekindergarten classes offered by the district; and
2-18 (3) the sources of funding for the prekindergarten
2-19 classes.
2-20 SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2001-2002
2-21 school year.
2-22 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
2-23 a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
2-24 provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
2-25 Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
2-26 Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
2-27 * * * * *