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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a kindergarten-plus program for certain children. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter E, Chapter 29, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 29.162 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 29.162. KINDERGARTEN-PLUS PROGRAM. (a) In addition |
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to any other funding to which a school district is entitled, from |
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funds appropriated for that purpose, the commissioner shall |
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distribute to each school district an amount of money equal to the |
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product of $2,000 multiplied by the number of children in average |
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daily attendance, as determined under Section 42.005, in the |
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district's kindergarten-plus program. A district may use funds |
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received under this subsection only for the purpose of the |
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district's kindergarten-plus program. |
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(b) A child is eligible to participate in a school |
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district's kindergarten-plus program if: |
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(1) the child is entitled to attend school in the |
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district under Section 25.001; |
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(2) the child: |
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(A) is enrolled or is planning to enroll in a |
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district kindergarten class for the next school year; or |
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(B) has just completed kindergarten; |
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(3) the child is educationally disadvantaged; and |
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(4) the child's parent or guardian has applied for the |
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child to participate in the kindergarten-plus program in the time |
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and manner required by the district and the district has accepted |
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the child's application. |
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(c) A school district kindergarten-plus program must, at a |
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minimum, consist of: |
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(1) six weeks of additional instruction for an |
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eligible child during the summer before the child will begin |
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kindergarten; and |
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(2) six weeks of additional instruction for an |
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eligible child during the summer after the child completes |
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kindergarten. |
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(d) In addition to compensation from funds provided under |
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this section, a teacher who teaches for a kindergarten-plus program |
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is entitled to two additional professional development days each |
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school year. |
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(e) The commissioner shall adopt rules necessary to |
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administer this section. The rules must provide for standards and a |
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curriculum for the kindergarten-plus program. |
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SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act, the commissioner of education shall adopt rules |
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relating to the kindergarten-plus program provided for by Section |
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29.162, Education Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |