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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the availability of free prekindergarten programs in |
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public schools. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Sections 29.153(a-1), (b), and (f), Education |
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Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(a-1) A district shall offer prekindergarten classes if the |
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district identifies 15 or more children who are [eligible under |
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Subsection (b) and are] at least four years of age. A school |
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district may offer prekindergarten classes if the district |
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identifies 15 or more [eligible] children who are eligible under |
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Subsection (b)(1) [at least three years of age]. A district may not |
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charge tuition for a prekindergarten class offered under this |
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section. |
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(b) A child is eligible for enrollment in a prekindergarten |
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class under this section if the child is: |
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(1) at least three years of age and: |
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(A) [(1)] is unable to speak and comprehend the |
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English language; |
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(B) [(2)] is educationally disadvantaged; |
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(C) [(3)] is homeless, regardless of the |
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residence of the child, of either parent of the child, or of the |
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child's guardian or other person having lawful control of the |
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child; |
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(D) [(4)] is the child of an active duty member |
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of the armed forces of the United States, including the state |
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military forces or a reserve component of the armed forces, who is |
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ordered to active duty by proper authority; |
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(E) [(5)] is the child of a member of the armed |
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forces of the United States, including the state military forces or |
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a reserve component of the armed forces, who was injured or killed |
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while serving on active duty; |
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(F) [(6)] is or ever has been in: |
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(i) [(A)] the conservatorship of the |
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Department of Family and Protective Services following an adversary |
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hearing held as provided by Section 262.201, Family Code; or |
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(ii) [(B)] foster care in another state or |
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territory, if the child resides in this state; or |
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(G) [(7)] is the child of a person eligible for |
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the Star of Texas Award as: |
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(i) [(A)] a peace officer under Section |
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3106.002, Government Code; |
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(ii) [(B)] a firefighter under Section |
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3106.003, Government Code; or |
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(iii) [(C)] an emergency medical first |
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responder under Section 3106.004, Government Code; or |
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(2) at least four years of age. |
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(f) A child who is eligible for enrollment in a |
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prekindergarten class under Subsection (b)(1)(D) or (E) [(b)(4) or |
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(5)] remains eligible for enrollment if the child's parent leaves |
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the armed forces, or is no longer on active duty, after the child |
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begins a prekindergarten class. |
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SECTION 2. Section 29.1532(c), Education Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(c) A school district that offers prekindergarten classes |
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shall include the following information in the district's Public |
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Education Information Management System (PEIMS) report: |
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(1) demographic information, as determined by the |
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commissioner, on students enrolled in district and campus |
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prekindergarten classes, including the number of students who are |
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eligible for classes under Section 29.153(b)(1) or (f) [29.153]; |
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(2) the numbers of half-day and full-day |
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prekindergarten classes offered by the district and campus; |
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(3) the number of half-day prekindergarten classes for |
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which the district has received an exemption from full-day |
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operation under Section 29.153(d); |
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(4) the sources of funding for the prekindergarten |
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classes; |
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(5) the class size and ratio of instructional staff to |
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students for each prekindergarten program class offered by the |
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district and campus; |
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(6) if the district elects to administer an |
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assessment instrument under Section 29.169 to students enrolled in |
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district and campus prekindergarten program classes, a description |
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and the results of each type of assessment instrument; and |
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(7) curricula used in the district's prekindergarten |
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program classes. |
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SECTION 3. Section 29.153(e-1), Education Code, is |
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repealed. |
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SECTION 4. This Act applies beginning with the 2023-2024 |
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school year. |
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SECTION 5. 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, 2023. |