| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to student/teacher ratios for prekindergarten classes |
|
|
provided by or on behalf of public schools. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Subchapter E, Chapter 29, Education Code, is |
|
|
amended by adding Section 29.1535 to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 29.1535. STUDENT/TEACHER RATIOS. A school district |
|
|
that offers a prekindergarten program under Section 29.153 or a |
|
|
private entity that provides a prekindergarten program under |
|
|
contract with a school district must maintain an average ratio of |
|
|
not less than one certified teacher or teacher's aide for each 11 |
|
|
students. |
|
|
SECTION 2. Section 29.167(d), Education Code, is amended to |
|
|
read as follows: |
|
|
(d) A school district must [attempt to] maintain an average |
|
|
ratio in any prekindergarten program class of not less than one |
|
|
certified teacher or teacher's aide for each 11 students. |
|
|
SECTION 3. Section 29.171(c), Education Code, is amended to |
|
|
read as follows: |
|
|
(c) A prekindergarten program provided by a private |
|
|
provider under this section is subject to the requirements of this |
|
|
subchapter, including the student/teacher ratio requirement |
|
|
imposed under Section 29.167(d). |
|
|
SECTION 4. This Act applies beginning with the 2017-2018 |
|
|
school year. |
|
|
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
|
|
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
|
|
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
|
|
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
|
|
Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |