AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
S.B. 1813 allows the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to seek, accept, and distribute federal grants for the benefit of stand-alone Head Start programs recognized by the state. The bill also expands the definition of public schools to include community-based Head Start programs as well as school-based Head Start programs.
The Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC), under the direction of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), administers the Schools and Libraries Program of the Universal Service Fund, commonly known as E-Rate, which provides discounts to assist most schools and libraries in the United States to obtain affordable telecommunications and Internet access. The discount each school or library can receive under the E-Rate program ranges from 20 to 90 percent and is determined using a matrix designed by the FCC, with entities in rural and low-income areas receiving larger discounts.
Currently, TEA is able to seek, accept, and distribute federal E-Rate grants for the benefit of public elementary schools. Current law allows the commissioner of education to determine that a school district-operated or a community-based Head Start program serves as a public elementary school for eligibility purposes for federal E-Rate grants. Although this authority took effect on September 1, 2009, the commissioner of education has yet to recognize any Head Start programs operating in community-based settings as eligible for federal E-Rate grants. The eligibility is being extended exclusively to Head Start centers operating on public school campuses.
As proposed, S.B. 1813 amends current law relating to the state definition of public school.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 4, Education Code, by adding Section 4.003, as follows:
Sec. 4.003. APPLICABILITY TO HEAD START PROGRAMS. Provides that a provision in this title applies to a Head Start program only to the extent that the provision explicitly provides for that applicability.
SECTION 2. Amends Section 5.001, Education Code, by adding Subdivision (6-b), to define "public school."
SECTION 3. Amends Section 7.031(b), Education Code, to authorize the commissioner of education to determine, for purposes of the program's eligibility to receive federal grant funds or participate in federal discount programs, rather than solely for the purposes of the program's eligibility to receive federal grant funds, for the purpose of technology services, support, and related services, that a Head Start program operated in this state by a school district or a community-based organization serves the function of an elementary school by providing elementary education at one or more program facilities, regardless of whether the Head Start program facilities are located on a school district campus.
SECTION 4. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2011.