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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to class size limits and student/teacher ratios for |
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prekindergarten classes provided by or on behalf of public schools. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 25.112(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 22 students in a prekindergarten, |
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kindergarten, first, second, third, or fourth grade class. That |
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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 2. Subchapter E, Chapter 29, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 29.1535 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 29.1535. STUDENT/TEACHER RATIOS. A school district |
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that offers a prekindergarten program under Section 29.153 or a |
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private entity that provides a prekindergarten program under |
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contract with a school district must maintain an average ratio of: |
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(1) for a class of 16 students or more, not less than |
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one certified teacher or teacher's aide for each 11 students; and |
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(2) for a class of fewer than 16 students, at least one |
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certified teacher or teacher's aide for each class. |
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SECTION 3. Section 29.167(d), Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(d) A school district must [attempt to] maintain an average |
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ratio in any prekindergarten program class of: |
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(1) for a class of 16 students or more, not less than |
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one certified teacher or teacher's aide for each 11 students; and |
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(2) for a class of fewer than 16 students, at least one |
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certified teacher or teacher's aide for each class. |
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SECTION 4. Section 29.171(c), Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(c) A prekindergarten program provided by a private |
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provider under this section is subject to: |
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(1) the requirements of this subchapter, including the |
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student/teacher ratio requirements imposed under Section |
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29.167(d); and |
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(2) the class size requirement for prekindergarten |
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classes imposed under Section 25.112(a). |
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SECTION 5. This Act applies beginning with the 2019-2020 |
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school year. |
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SECTION 6. 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, 2019. |