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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to certain prekindergarten programs offered by a school |
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district. |
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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 29.1551 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 29.1551. PREKINDERGARTEN PROGRAMS RECEIVING STATE |
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FUNDING. (a) A school district that receives Foundation School |
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Program funds under Section 29.153 or grant funds under Section |
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29.155 for a prekindergarten program must offer an enhanced quality |
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prekindergarten program and comply with this section. |
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(b) A school district may not enroll more than 22 students |
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in a prekindergarten class and must maintain an average ratio of at |
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least one teacher or educational aide for each 11 students in |
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average daily attendance in prekindergarten classes. |
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(c) At least one teacher in each prekindergarten class must |
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hold a bachelor's degree and appropriate teacher certification. |
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(d) Each teacher in a prekindergarten class must have a |
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minimum of nine credit hours of college education courses |
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emphasizing early childhood education. |
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(e) A school district must select the curriculum for the |
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enhanced quality prekindergarten program from the list of curricula |
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approved for that purpose by the commissioner. |
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SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2015-2016 |
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school year. |
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SECTION 3. 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, 2015. |