Amend CSSB 1 as follows:
(1)  In Article III of the bill, following the appropriations to the Texas Education Agency, amend Paragraph (a) of Rider 47, Early Childhood School Readiness Program (page III-15), to read as follows:
a.  Funds shall be distributed on a competitive grant basis to preschool programs to provide scientific, research-based pre-reading instruction with the goal of directly improving the pre-reading skills of three- and four-year-old children or improving overall kindergarten readiness [and implementing school readiness integration community collaborations]. To be eligible for the grants, applicants must serve at least 75 percent low income students, as determined by the Commissioner. [The Commissioner may require applicants to participate in the School Readiness Certification System according to the provisions of Texas Education Code §29.161.] It is the intent of the Legislature that the Texas Education Agency participate to the extent practicable in interagency early childhood education and care coordination initiatives. This includes, but is not limited to, participation in the Head Start collaboration project or any other interagency entity formed to address the coordination of early childhood care and education service delivery and funding.
(2)  In Article VII of the bill, following the appropriations to the Texas Workforce Commission, amend Rider 26, Professional Development Partnerships for Early Childhood Education (page VII-38), to read as follows:
26.  Professional Development Partnerships for Early Childhood Education. Out of federal Child Care Development Funds (CCDF) appropriated above, the Texas Workforce Commission may [shall] transfer via interagency contract not more than $150,000 [$1,000,000] in fiscal year 2014 and not more than $150,000 [$1,000,000] in fiscal year 2015 to the Texas Education Agency to fund the management of early childhood education partnerships projects, including the award of stipends, to facilitate increased participation in professional development by early childhood education professionals and encourage those professionals to seek additional education.
(3)  In Article VII of the bill, following the appropriations to the Texas Workforce Commission, add the following appropriately numbered rider:
____.  Professional Development for Early Childhood Education. Out of federal Child Care Development Funds (CCDF) appropriated above, the Texas Workforce Commission shall dedicate $850,000 in fiscal year 2014 and $850,000 in fiscal year 2015 for programs that encourage increased participation in continuing professional development for early childhood professionals. Funding may be used to fund teacher training programs, programs that lead to a national credential in early childhood education, or work-study programs in child care. Funding may also be used for pilot programs that utilize tools for individualized instruction coupled with professional development components that support ongoing learning for teachers.