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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to providing notification to parents of eligible children |
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of the availability of prekindergarten programs. |
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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 29.1534 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 29.1534. NOTIFICATION OF PREKINDERGARTEN PROGRAMS. |
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(a) In this section, "prekindergarten program" includes |
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prekindergarten programs provided by a private entity through a |
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partnership with the school district. |
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(b) The agency shall develop joint strategies with other |
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state agencies regarding methods to increase community awareness of |
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prekindergarten programs through programs that provide information |
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relating to public assistance programs. |
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(c) Each school district shall report annually to the agency |
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the strategies implemented by the school district to increase |
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community awareness of prekindergarten programs offered by the |
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district. The district shall report the information on a form |
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prescribed by the commissioner. A report required by this |
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subsection may be combined, at the discretion of the commissioner, |
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with another report that the district submits to the agency. |
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(d) Not later than the 90th day after the date the agency |
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receives a report from a school district as required by Subsection |
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(c), the agency shall post the report on the agency's Internet |
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website. |
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(e) Not later than January 1, 2010, the agency shall conduct |
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a study to identify effective methods to communicate to the parent |
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of an eligible child the availability of prekindergarten programs. |
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The study must include research on providing information regarding |
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prekindergarten programs through public, private, and nonprofit |
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institutions that provide assistance and support to families with |
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children eligible for prekindergarten programs. Not later than |
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February 1, 2010, the agency shall make recommendations to school |
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districts based on the study regarding the most effective methods |
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to increase communication regarding the availability of |
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prekindergarten programs. This subsection expires March 1, 2010. |
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(f) Not later than December 1, 2010, the agency shall |
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prepare and deliver to the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the |
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house of representatives, and the presiding officer of each |
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legislative standing committee with primary jurisdiction over |
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primary and secondary education a report detailing strategies |
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developed under Subsection (b) to increase community awareness of |
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prekindergarten programs. This subsection expires January 1, 2011. |
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SECTION 2. 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, 2009. |