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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to student/teacher ratios and class size limits for |
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prekindergarten classes in public schools. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 25.111, Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 25.111. STUDENT/TEACHER RATIOS. Except as provided by |
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Section 25.112, each school district must: |
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(1) employ a sufficient number of teachers certified |
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under Subchapter B, Chapter 21, to maintain an average ratio of not |
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less than one teacher for each 20 students in average daily |
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attendance above the prekindergarten level; and |
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(2) employ a sufficient number of teachers certified |
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under Subchapter B, Chapter 21, and teacher's aides to maintain an |
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average ratio of not less than one teacher or teacher's aide for |
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each nine students in average daily attendance at the |
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prekindergarten level. |
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SECTION 2. Section 25.112(a), Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) Except as otherwise authorized by this section, a school |
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district may not enroll more than 18 students in a prekindergarten |
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class or 22 students in a kindergarten, first, second, third, or |
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fourth grade class. That limitation does not apply during: |
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(1) any 12-week period of the school year selected by |
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the district, in the case of a district whose average daily |
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attendance is adjusted under Section 42.005(c); or |
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(2) the last 12 weeks of any school year in the case of |
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any other district. |
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SECTION 3. This Act applies beginning with the 2009-2010 |
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school year. |
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SECTION 4. 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. |