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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the operation of free prekindergarten programs by |
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certain school districts and to the early education allotment under |
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the Foundation School Program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 29.153, Education Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsections (d-3), (d-4), and (d-5) to read as follows: |
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(d-3) A school district shall contract with a |
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community-based child-care provider described by Subsection (g) to |
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provide a prekindergarten class required under this section if the |
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commissioner determines that: |
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(1) a district election for the purpose of issuing |
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bonds for the construction or repurposing of a classroom facility |
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to provide the prekindergarten class has failed in the 24 months |
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preceding the determination; or |
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(2) the district is unable to adequately staff the |
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prekindergarten class. |
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(d-4) The commissioner may waive the requirement under |
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Subsection (d-3) if the commissioner determines that a |
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community-based child-care provider described by Subsection (g) is |
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not located in the boundaries of the district. |
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(d-5) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, |
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the commissioner shall interpret Subsection (d-3) to the broadest |
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extent possible to encourage partnerships between school districts |
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and community-based child-care providers described by Subsection |
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(g). |
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SECTION 2. Section 48.108, Education Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsections (a-1), (a-2), (a-3), and (a-4) to read as |
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follows: |
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(a-1) In addition to the allotment under Subsection (a) and |
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subject to Subsection (a-2), a school district is entitled to an |
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annual allotment equal to the basic allotment multiplied by 0.2 for |
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each student in average daily attendance enrolled in a |
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prekindergarten class provided through a contract with a |
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community-based child-care provider under Section 29.153. |
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(a-2) The total number of students in average daily |
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attendance statewide for whom an allotment may be provided under |
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Subsection (a-1) for a school year may not exceed 10,000 students in |
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average daily attendance. If the number of students in average |
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daily attendance for whom a school district is entitled to an |
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allotment under this section exceeds the maximum number provided by |
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this subsection, the commissioner shall allocate the allotments to |
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school districts under this section in accordance with commissioner |
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rule. |
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(a-3) Notwithstanding Subsection (a-2), the maximum number |
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of students in average daily attendance statewide for whom an |
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allotment may be provided under Subsection (a-1) for a school year |
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is: |
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(1) for the 2024-2025 school year, 2,000 students; |
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(2) for the 2025-2026 school year, 4,500 students; and |
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(3) for the 2026-2027 school year, 7,000 students. |
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(a-4) Subsection (a-3) and this subsection expire September |
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1, 2027. |
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SECTION 3. Sections 29.153(d-3), (d-4), and (d-5), |
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Education Code, as added by this Act, apply beginning with the |
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2023-2024 school year. |
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SECTION 4. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of this |
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section: |
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(1) this Act takes effect immediately if it receives a |
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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; and |
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(2) if this Act does not receive the vote necessary for |
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immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |
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(b) Sections 48.108(a-1), (a-2), (a-3), and (a-4), |
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Education Code, as added by this Act, take effect September 1, 2024. |