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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to early childhood education. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 28.006, Education Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (d) and adding Subsection (d-1) to read as |
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follows: |
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(d) The superintendent of each school district shall: |
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(1) report to the commissioner and the board of |
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trustees of the district the results of the reading instruments; |
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[and] |
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(2) report, in writing, to a student's parent or |
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guardian the student's results on the reading instrument; and |
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(3) using the school readiness certification system |
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provided to the school district in accordance with Section |
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29.161(e), report electronically each student's raw score on the |
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reading instrument to the agency for use in the school readiness |
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certification system. |
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(d-1) The agency shall contract with the State Center for |
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Early Childhood Development to receive and use scores under |
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Subsection (d)(3) on behalf of the agency. |
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SECTION 2. Section 29.153, Education Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (d-1) to read as follows: |
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(d-1) On receipt of an application for an exemption under |
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Subsection (d), the commissioner shall encourage the school |
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district requesting the exemption to make arrangements to provide |
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prekindergarten classes through a school readiness integration |
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project under Section 29.160. |
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SECTION 3. The heading to Section 29.160, Education Code, |
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is amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 29.160. SCHOOL READINESS INTEGRATION [DEMONSTRATION] |
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PROJECTS. |
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SECTION 4. Section 29.160, Education Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsections (a), (b), (c), and (c-2) through (f) and |
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adding Subsection (c-3) to read as follows: |
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(a) The State Center for Early Childhood Development, in |
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conjunction with a school district, regional education service |
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center, institution of higher education, local government, local |
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workforce development board, or community organization, may |
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develop school readiness integration projects in conjunction with |
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[a quality rating system demonstration project under which] |
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prekindergarten program providers, licensed child-care facilities, |
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or Head Start and Early Head Start program providers [are assessed
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under a quality rating system]. |
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(b) In developing school readiness integration projects |
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[the quality rating system demonstration project], the State Center |
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for Early Childhood Development is entitled to: |
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(1) reasonable access to the sites at which the |
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programs to be rated are operated, which may include sites under the |
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authority of school districts or the Department of Family and |
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Protective [and Regulatory] Services; and |
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(2) technical assistance and support from the agency, |
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the Texas Workforce Commission, and the Department of Family and |
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Protective [and Regulatory] Services to the extent that those |
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agencies have the ability to provide assistance and support using |
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existing agency resources. |
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(c) A school district, regional education service center, |
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institution of higher education, local government, local workforce |
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development board, or community organization may develop one or |
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more school readiness integration [coordination-of-resources
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demonstration] projects under which government-funded child-care |
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and early education services, including Head Start and Early Head |
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Start, prekindergarten, and after-school child-care program |
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services, child-care services provided by nonprofit or for-profit |
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entities, and faith-based child-care programs, are operated in a |
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coordinated and integrated manner. An entity that develops a |
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proposed school readiness integration [demonstration] project |
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under this subsection must obtain approval of the project from the |
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state agency or agencies with regulatory jurisdiction over the |
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subject matter involved in the project. Approval of a project under |
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this subsection must be made contingent on development of a |
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memorandum of understanding regarding the child-care and early |
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education coordination and integration that [is]: |
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(1) is entered into by each entity participating in |
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the project; |
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(2) is certified by the State Center for Early |
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Childhood Development as meeting any standards developed under |
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Section 29.155(g); [and] |
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(3) is consistent with the applicable provisions of |
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this section and applicable laws and regulations in a manner that at |
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a minimum maintains existing child-care and early education program |
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requirements and does not waive or reduce any existing health and |
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safety standards; and |
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(4) contains provisions ensuring that the project does |
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not result in the reduction of existing services or the redirection |
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of existing expenditures. |
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(c-2) A [demonstration] project established under |
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Subsection (c) must include a program evaluation component that, in |
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addition to assessing child-care and early education outcomes for |
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young children, demonstrates: |
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(1) the extent to which program quality has been |
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enhanced and the cognitive, physical, social, and emotional |
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development of young children has been promoted; |
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(2) the extent to which the number of children being |
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served by full-day, full-year programs has increased; |
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(3) the extent to which professional development |
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training or activities engaged in by program staff has increased; |
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and |
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(4) that there has been no weakening of standards or |
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diminishment of services. |
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(c-3) A project established under Subsection (c) that |
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obtains certification through the school readiness certification |
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system established under Section 29.161 is eligible for funds |
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available under Section 29.1561(c) and is entitled to priority |
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consideration in the award of those funds. Funds awarded under that |
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section may be used to: |
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(1) create a prekindergarten program; |
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(2) expand a prekindergarten program to serve children |
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who are three years of age; |
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(3) increase income eligibility levels for |
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prekindergarten; |
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(4) increase half-day prekindergarten to full-day |
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prekindergarten; or |
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(5) add a teacher's aide to existing prekindergarten |
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classes. |
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(d) An entity that obtains approval of a school readiness |
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integration [coordination-of-resources demonstration] project is |
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entitled to a waiver or modification of any existing rule, policy, |
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or procedure of the agency, the Texas Workforce Commission, or the |
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Department of Family and Protective [and Regulatory] Services that |
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impairs the coordinated provision of government-funded child-care |
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services, provided that the waiver or modification does not |
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adversely affect the health, safety, or welfare of the children |
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receiving services under the project. In addition, if applicable, |
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the appropriate state agency must seek on behalf of the entity any |
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available federal waiver from a federal rule, policy, or procedure |
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imposed in connection with a Head Start program that impairs the |
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coordinated provision of government-funded child-care services. |
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Not later than the 30th day after the date on which a state agency |
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becomes aware of an applicable federal waiver under this |
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subsection, the state agency shall notify the appropriate entity of |
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the date by which the state agency intends to seek the waiver. |
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(e) The State Center for Early Childhood Development and any |
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other entity that implements a [demonstration] project established |
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under Subsection (c) [this section] must provide a report to the |
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legislature and to the state agency or agencies with regulatory |
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jurisdiction over the subject matter involved in the project. The |
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report must include: |
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(1) an evaluation of the effectiveness of the project; |
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[and] |
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(2) recommendations on statewide implementation of |
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the project; and |
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(3) an evaluation of the level of participation in the |
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project by each type of provider. |
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(f) The report required by Subsection (e) must be provided |
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at the time specified jointly by the state agency or agencies with |
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regulatory jurisdiction over the subject matter involved in the |
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[demonstration] project established under Subsection (c). |
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SECTION 5. Subchapter E, Chapter 29, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 29.1601 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 29.1601. SCHOOL READINESS INTEGRATION PROJECT |
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REGISTRY. (a) The State Center for Early Childhood Development |
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shall maintain a registry of qualified private entities that |
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volunteer to participate in a school readiness integration project |
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under Section 29.160. |
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(b) The State Center for Early Childhood Development shall: |
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(1) develop a process for interested private entities |
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to volunteer to participate in a school readiness integration |
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project; and |
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(2) determine whether a private entity is qualified to |
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participate. |
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(c) The State Center for Early Childhood Development shall |
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make the registry available to a school district, regional |
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education service center, institution of higher education, local |
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government, local workforce development board, or community |
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organization developing a school readiness integration project. |
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SECTION 6. Section 29.161, Education Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsections (d) through (h) to |
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read as follows: |
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(c) The system must: |
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(1) be reflective of research in the field of early |
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childhood care and education; |
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(2) be well-grounded in the cognitive, physical, |
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social, and emotional development of young children; [and] |
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(3) apply a common set of criteria, including multiple |
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measures of program quality in addition to the results of a reading |
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instrument administered under Section 28.006, to evaluate each |
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program provider seeking certification, regardless of the type of |
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program or source of program funding; and |
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(4) be capable of fulfilling the reporting and notice |
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requirements of Sections 28.006(d) and (g). |
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(d) The agency shall collect each student's raw score |
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results on the reading instrument administered under Section 28.006 |
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from each school district using the system created under Subsection |
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(a) and shall contract with the State Center for Early Childhood |
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Development for purposes of this section. |
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(e) The State Center for Early Childhood Development shall, |
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using funds appropriated for the school readiness certification |
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system, provide the system created under Subsection (a) to each |
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school district to report each student's raw score results on the |
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reading instrument administered under Section 28.006. |
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(f) The agency shall: |
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(1) provide assistance to the State Center for Early |
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Childhood Development in developing and adopting the school |
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readiness certification system under this section, including |
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providing access to data for the purpose of locating the teacher and |
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campus of record for students; and |
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(2) require confidentiality and other security |
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measures for student data provided to the State Center for Early |
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Childhood Development as the agency's agent, consistent with the |
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Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (20 U.S.C. Section |
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1232g). |
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(g) A program provider must, in addition to any other |
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criteria applied by the system, meet the following criteria to be |
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eligible for certification under the system: |
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(1) be in good standing with the Department of Family |
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and Protective Services, if applicable; and |
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(2) use ongoing child assessment tools to guide lesson |
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planning and instructional approaches. |
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(h) For purposes of Subsection (g)(1), a provider is in good |
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standing with the Department of Family and Protective Services if |
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the department has not taken an action against the provider's |
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license, listing, or registration under Section 42.071, 42.072, or |
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42.078, Human Resources Code, during the two-year period preceding |
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the date of applying for certification. |
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SECTION 7. Subchapter G, Chapter 2308, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 2308.3155 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 2308.3155. ENHANCED REIMBURSEMENT RATES FOR CERTAIN |
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CHILD-CARE PROVIDERS. (a) A licensed child-care provider that |
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participates in a school readiness integration project established |
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under Section 29.160, Education Code, or obtains certification |
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under the school readiness certification system established under |
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Section 29.161, Education Code, is eligible for enhanced |
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reimbursement rates for services provided to children who are |
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younger than six years of age at a level to be determined by each |
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board but at least equal to the designated vendor rate provided by |
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Section 2308.315. |
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(a-1) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), a licensed child-care |
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provider that meets the Texas Rising Star Provider criteria |
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described by 40 T.A.C. Section 809.15(b) is eligible for enhanced |
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reimbursement rates for services provided to children who are |
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younger than six years of age at a level to be determined by each |
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board but at least equal to the designated vendor rate provided by |
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Section 2308.315. A provider that receives increased reimbursement |
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rates under this subsection is encouraged to use the funds to obtain |
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certification under the school readiness certification system |
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established under Section 29.161, Education Code. |
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(b) To the extent that federal funds under the Temporary |
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Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program are available to the |
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state and are appropriated for this purpose, local workforce |
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development boards shall use those funds, in addition to funds from |
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the federal Child Care Development Fund, to provide enhanced |
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reimbursement rates under this section. The Texas Workforce |
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Commission shall distribute the increased federal funds directly to |
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local workforce development boards in the same proportion that |
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child care development fund quality improvement money is |
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distributed to local workforce development boards. |
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SECTION 8. Section 42.0421, Human Resources Code, is |
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amended by adding Subsections (e) and (f) to read as follows: |
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(e) The department, in coordination with the State Center |
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for Early Childhood Development and the Texas Advisory Council on |
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Early Childhood Education Career Development established under |
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Subchapter C, Chapter 72, may develop or seek proposals through a |
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competitive process for: |
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(1) the development and maintenance of one or more |
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training modules to be made available through the Internet and in |
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accordance with Section 42.042(p) as training modules an employee |
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may use to comply with Subsection (a)(1); |
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(2) the development and maintenance of a statewide |
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bilingual training portal that connects a person who provides child |
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care with training providers or other sources of training; or |
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(3) the development and implementation of a marketing |
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strategy to publicize the availability and importance of training |
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to all providers of early childhood care and education. |
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(f) The training modules developed and maintained under |
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Subsection (e) must: |
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(1) be consistent with applicable core knowledge and |
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skills, as identified by experts in the field of early childhood |
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education; and |
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(2) include a common postassessment that indicates an |
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acceptable level of learning by the employee. |
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SECTION 9. Effective January 1, 2009, Section 42.0421, |
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Human Resources Code, is amended by adding Subsection (g) to read as |
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follows: |
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(g) Except as provided by Subsection (e), the training |
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required by this section must be provided by a person who: |
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(1) is a training provider registered with the Texas |
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Early Care and Education Career Development System's Texas Trainer |
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Registry that is maintained by the Texas Head Start State |
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Collaboration Office; |
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(2) is an instructor at a public or private secondary |
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school or at a public or private institution of higher education, as |
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defined by Section 61.801, Education Code, who teaches early child |
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development or another relevant course, as determined by rules |
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adopted by the commissioner of education and the commissioner of |
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higher education; |
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(3) is an employee of a state agency with relevant |
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expertise; |
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(4) is a physician, psychologist, licensed |
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professional counselor, social worker, or registered nurse; |
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(5) holds a generally recognized credential, such as a |
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certification to provide instruction in cardiopulmonary |
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resuscitation; |
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(6) is a family home care provider or director of a |
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day-care center in good standing with the department, if |
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applicable, provided that the department has not taken an action |
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against the provider's license, listing, or registration under |
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Section 42.071, 42.072, or 42.078 during the two-year period |
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preceding the date on which the provider or director provides the |
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training; or |
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(7) is approved by the commissioner of education, |
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based on the recommendation of the Texas Advisory Council on Early |
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Childhood Education Career Development established under |
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Subchapter C, Chapter 72. |
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SECTION 10. The heading to Chapter 72, Human Resources |
|
Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 72. EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION SERVICES [HEAD START
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PROGRAMS] |
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SECTION 11. Chapter 72, Human Resources Code, is amended by |
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designating Section 72.001 as Subchapter A and adding a subchapter |
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heading to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS |
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SECTION 12. Section 72.001, Human Resources Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 72.001. DEFINITIONS [DEFINITION]. In this chapter: |
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(1) "Advisory council" means the Texas Advisory |
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Council on Early Childhood Education Career Development. |
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(2) [,] "Head Start program" means the federal program |
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established under the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. Section 9831 et |
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seq.) and its subsequent amendments. |
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SECTION 13. Subchapter A, Chapter 72, Human Resources Code, |
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as designated by this Act, is amended by adding Section 72.0015 to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 72.0015. REQUIREMENTS APPLICABLE TO STATE CENTER FOR |
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EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT. (a) The State Center for Early |
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Childhood Development shall: |
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(1) comply with the contract management requirements |
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prescribed by Chapter 2262, Government Code; |
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(2) not later than December 1 of each even-numbered |
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year, prepare and submit to the presiding officers of the Senate |
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Committee on Finance and the House Appropriations Committee a |
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report detailing the use of all state money provided to the center |
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to fund early childhood education services; and |
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(3) provide center staff to appear before a standing |
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committee of the senate or house of representatives with |
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jurisdiction over public primary and secondary education on request |
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of the presiding officer of the committee. |
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(b) In each even-numbered year, the State Center for Early |
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Childhood Development shall allow an external evaluation, by an |
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organization under contract with the Texas Education Agency for |
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that purpose, regarding the management and implementation of school |
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readiness integration projects authorized by Section 29.160, |
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Education Code. |
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(c) The organization completing the external evaluation |
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under Subsection (b) must be selected through a competitive process |
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developed by the Texas Education Agency. |
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SECTION 14. Chapter 72, Human Resources Code, is amended by |
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designating Sections 72.002 and 72.003 as Subchapter B, renumbering |
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Sections 72.002 and 72.003 as Sections 72.051 and 72.052, |
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respectively, and adding a subchapter heading to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER B. HEAD START PROGRAMS |
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Sec. 72.051 [72.002]. EDUCATIONAL SERVICES. To promote the |
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comprehensive health, safety, and well-being of children receiving |
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child care through Head Start programs, a program provider shall |
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provide educational services to children participating in the |
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program so that each child is prepared to enter school and is ready |
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to learn after completing the program. The educational services |
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provided must include components designed to enable a child to: |
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(1) develop phonemic, print, and numeracy awareness, |
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including the ability to: |
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(A) recognize that letters of the alphabet are a |
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special category of visual graphics that can be individually named; |
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(B) recognize a word as a unit of print; |
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(C) identify at least 10 letters of the alphabet; |
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and |
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(D) associate sounds with written words; |
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(2) understand and use language to communicate for |
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various purposes; |
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(3) understand and use an increasingly complex and |
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varied vocabulary; |
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(4) develop and demonstrate an appreciation of books; |
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and |
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(5) progress toward mastery of the English language, |
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if the child's primary language is a language other than English. |
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Sec. 72.052 [72.003]. COORDINATION OF SERVICES. (a) In a |
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manner consistent with federal law and regulations, each Head Start |
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and Early Head Start program provider shall coordinate with the |
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Texas Workforce Commission and local workforce development boards |
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regarding subsidized child-care services. |
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(b) The coordination required by this section must include |
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coordinating to ensure, to the extent practicable, that full-day, |
|
full-year child-care services are available to meet the needs of |
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low-income parents who are working or participating in workforce |
|
training or workforce education. The coordination may also |
|
include: |
|
(1) cooperating with the Texas Workforce Commission |
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regarding studies conducted by the commission; |
|
(2) collecting data necessary to determine a child's |
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eligibility for subsidized child-care services or a Head Start or |
|
Early Head Start program, when permissible; |
|
(3) cooperating to provide for staff training and |
|
professional development activities; |
|
(4) identifying and developing methods for the |
|
collaborative provision of subsidized child-care services and Head |
|
Start or Early Head Start program services, including: |
|
(A) sharing facilities or staff; and |
|
(B) increasing the enrollment capacity of those |
|
programs; |
|
(5) identifying child-care facilities located in |
|
close proximity to Head Start or Early Head Start programs; and |
|
(6) coordinating transportation between child-care |
|
facilities identified under Subdivision (5) and a Head Start or |
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Early Head Start program. |
|
SECTION 15. Chapter 72, Human Resources Code, is amended by |
|
adding Subchapters C and D to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER C. TEXAS ADVISORY COUNCIL ON EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION |
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CAREER DEVELOPMENT |
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Sec. 72.101. ESTABLISHMENT. (a) The Texas Advisory |
|
Council on Early Childhood Education Career Development is |
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established to promote the recognition of early childhood educators |
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as professionals and assist in the development of professional |
|
standards and educational opportunities for those educators. |
|
(b) The advisory council shall coordinate its efforts with |
|
the Texas Head Start State Collaboration Office. |
|
(c) The advisory council is not subject to Chapter 2110, |
|
Government Code. |
|
Sec. 72.102. COMPOSITION. The advisory council consists |
|
of: |
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(1) a representative of the Texas Education Agency, as |
|
designated by the commissioner of education; |
|
(2) a representative of the Texas Workforce |
|
Commission, as designated by the executive director of the |
|
commission; |
|
(3) a representative of the Office of Early Childhood |
|
Coordination established by the Health and Human Services |
|
Commission, as designated by the executive commissioner of the |
|
commission; |
|
(4) a representative of the Texas Higher Education |
|
Coordinating Board, as designated by the commissioner of higher |
|
education; |
|
(5) a representative of the Department of Family and |
|
Protective Services with expertise relating to licensing of |
|
child-care facilities, as designated by the commissioner of the |
|
department; |
|
(6) a representative of the State Center for Early |
|
Childhood Development, as designated by the director of the center; |
|
(7) a representative of the Texas Head Start State |
|
Collaboration Office, as designated by the executive commissioner |
|
of the Health and Human Services Commission; |
|
(8) a representative of the Texas Cooperative |
|
Extension, as designated by the director of the Texas Cooperative |
|
Extension; and |
|
(9) representatives of each of the following entities |
|
or stakeholder groups, as designated by the commissioner of |
|
education: |
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(A) statewide associations of early childhood |
|
education professionals; |
|
(B) statewide organizations that certify or |
|
provide other credentials to individuals working in the field of |
|
early childhood education; |
|
(C) child-care resource and referral agencies; |
|
(D) two-year and four-year colleges and |
|
universities in this state; |
|
(E) public school districts and charter schools |
|
that offer secondary programs of study in the area of early |
|
childhood education; |
|
(F) a director of each of the following early |
|
childhood program providers: |
|
(i) Head Start programs; |
|
(ii) programs provided by school districts; |
|
(iii) nonprofit and for-profit licensed |
|
day-care centers; and |
|
(iv) family homes, as defined by Section |
|
42.002; |
|
(G) parents with children receiving services |
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through early childhood programs; |
|
(H) an expert in early childhood intervention and |
|
special education services; and |
|
(I) community-based organizations. |
|
Sec. 72.103. DUTIES. The advisory council shall: |
|
(1) in conjunction with the organization with which |
|
the Texas Education Agency contracts under Section 72.155 to manage |
|
early childhood education partnership projects established under |
|
Subchapter D, develop criteria for determining the effectiveness |
|
and performance of those partnerships; and |
|
(2) perform any other function specified by law or |
|
identified as an appropriate function by the commissioner of |
|
education. |
|
Sec. 72.104. PRESIDING OFFICER. The commissioner of |
|
education shall designate the presiding officer of the advisory |
|
council. |
|
Sec. 72.105. EXPENSES AND STAFF. (a) A member of the |
|
advisory council may not receive compensation for serving on the |
|
advisory council but is entitled to reimbursement of travel |
|
expenses incurred by the member while conducting the business of |
|
the advisory council as provided by the General Appropriations Act. |
|
(b) The Texas Education Agency shall provide staff |
|
assistance as necessary to enable the advisory council to perform |
|
the advisory council's duties. |
|
SUBCHAPTER D. EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP PROJECTS |
|
Sec. 72.151. ESTABLISHMENT OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION |
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PARTNERSHIP PROJECTS. (a) A partnership project may be |
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established in any area of this state in accordance with this |
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subchapter to facilitate increased participation in professional |
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development by early childhood education professionals and |
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encourage those professionals to seek additional education. |
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(b) A partnership project may include participation by any |
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interested person, including: |
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(1) employers and employees involved in early |
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childhood education services, such as school districts, licensed |
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child-care facilities, registered family homes, Head Start program |
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providers, and resource and referral agencies; and |
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(2) providers of early childhood education training |
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programs, such as public high schools, community colleges, |
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universities, regional education service centers, cooperative |
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extensions, and the P-16 Council established under Section 61.076, |
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Education Code. |
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(c) Participation in a partnership project may not be |
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contingent on participation in a school readiness integration |
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project under Section 29.160, Education Code. |
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Sec. 72.152. PROJECT PLAN. (a) A partnership project |
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must: |
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(1) develop a coordinated plan under which early |
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childhood education professionals or students participating in the |
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project are able to receive appropriate college credit or |
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professional training; and |
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(2) obtain approval of the plan from the managing |
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organization selected under Section 72.155 and with the advice of |
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the advisory council. |
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(b) In addition to any other criteria required as a |
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condition of approval under Subsection (a)(2), the plan must: |
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(1) develop measurable objectives similar to those of |
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the Achieve Texas program administered by the Texas Education |
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Agency and the Closing the Gaps program administered by the Texas |
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Higher Education Coordinating Board; |
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(2) include training programs and nonduplicative |
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courses for which workforce certification and college credits may |
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be awarded; |
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(3) align training content with standards developed by |
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nationally recognized early childhood education accrediting |
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bodies; |
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(4) implement practices that allow teachers to observe |
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classrooms and centers considered by the advisory council to be |
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excellent; |
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(5) use valid and reliable preassessments and |
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postassessments that indicate an acceptable level of teacher |
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learning, as determined by secondary and higher education |
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requirements; |
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(6) provide an opportunity for a participating student |
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to earn three semester credit hours for the standard curriculum |
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resources course in an associate of applied science child |
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development degree by passing an assessment, submitting sample |
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materials, and providing documentation that the student has |
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completed at least 48 contact hours of approved training by a |
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registered trainer; |
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(7) encourage colleges and universities to grant as |
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much credit as possible for students who completed an early |
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childhood professions or child care and guidance management and |
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services program in high school, if the program meets the minimum |
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standards of the college or university relating to program quality; |
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and |
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(8) encourage universities to grant as much credit as |
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possible for students who have completed an associate of applied |
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science child development degree. |
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(c) The plan must also include a program evaluation |
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component that, in addition to assessing early childhood education |
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training opportunities, demonstrates: |
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(1) the extent to which an entity's early childhood |
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education training program quality has been enhanced; |
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(2) the extent to which the number of child-care |
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professionals receiving training has increased; |
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(3) the extent to which professional development |
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training opportunities have increased; |
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(4) the extent to which the professionals |
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participating in the partnership project demonstrate applicable |
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core knowledge and skills compared to professionals in a control |
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group; and |
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(5) the extent to which developmental and learning |
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outcomes of children in the classrooms of participating |
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professionals improve compared to children in a control group, as |
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measured by valid and reliable instruments. |
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Sec. 72.153. TRAINING REQUIREMENTS FOR PARTICIPATING |
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PROFESSIONALS. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), an early |
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childhood education professional who participates in a partnership |
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project must complete at least 48 contact hours of training within |
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the 18-month period following the date on which the professional |
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begins participation. |
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(b) An individual with no previous training or employment |
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experience in a child-care facility may satisfy the training |
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requirement specified by Subsection (a) by completing at least 16 |
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contact hours of preservice training and an additional 32 contact |
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hours within the 18-month period following the date on which the |
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individual begins employment in a child-care facility. |
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(c) The total number of contact hours of training required |
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under Subsection (a) may be equal to three or four semester credit |
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hours in a participating accredited institution. |
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Sec. 72.154. QUALIFIED EXPENSES AND REIMBURSEMENT. (a) A |
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partnership project shall pay qualified expenses, as determined by |
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the project's managing organization, for each early childhood |
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education professional who: |
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(1) participates in the project; |
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(2) pursues a higher education degree; and |
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(3) remains in the field of early childhood education |
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for two years. |
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(b) Qualified expenses may include: |
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(1) on-campus housing costs; |
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(2) tuition; |
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(3) books; |
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(4) transportation; and |
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(5) other expenses, as determined by the partnership |
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project's managing organization. |
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(c) A partnership project may provide reimbursement to a |
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child-care facility if an early childhood education professional is |
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required to complete contact hours during the regular business |
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hours of the child-care facility in accordance with procedures |
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created by the partnership project's managing organization. |
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Sec. 72.155. MANAGING ORGANIZATION. (a) The Texas |
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Education Agency, based on the recommendation of the advisory |
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council, shall contract with an organization to manage project |
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partnerships. |
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(b) The organization must be selected through a competitive |
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process developed by the Texas Education Agency and the advisory |
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council. |
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SECTION 16. Not later than December 1, 2009, the Texas |
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Advisory Council on Early Childhood Education Career Development, |
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as established by this Act, shall submit a report to the legislature |
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that evaluates the effectiveness of the changes in law made by this |
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Act. The report must specifically address any effect on the |
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recruitment, retention, and quality of early childhood education |
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providers, and any effect on associated student learning outcomes. |
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SECTION 17. Except as otherwise provided by this Act, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |
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