88R13641 ANG-F
 
  By: Talarico H.B. No. 4469
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to prekindergarten programs provided by public schools,
  including through partnerships with certain community-based
  child-care providers.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 29.1531(b), Education Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (b)  A district that offers a prekindergarten program on a
  tuition basis:
               (1)  may not adopt a tuition rate for the program that
  is higher than necessary to cover the added costs of providing the
  program, including any costs associated with collecting,
  reporting, and analyzing data under Section 29.1532(c); [and]
               (2)  must submit the proposed tuition rate to the
  commissioner for approval; and
               (3)  must demonstrate that the capacity of
  prekindergarten classes provided by existing Head Start or other
  community-based child-care programs located in the district is
  insufficient to meet the needs of the district.
         SECTION 2.  Section 29.1532(c), Education Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (c)  A school district that offers prekindergarten classes
  shall include the following information in the district's Public
  Education Information Management System (PEIMS) report:
               (1)  demographic information, as determined by the
  commissioner, on students enrolled in district and campus
  prekindergarten classes, including:
                     (A)  the number of students who are eligible for
  classes under Section 29.153;
                     (B)  the number of students enrolled in classes
  provided by Head Start or another community-based child-care
  provider through a partnership with the district; and
                     (C)  the number of students enrolled in
  prekindergarten classes who are not eligible for prekindergarten
  classes under Section 29.153;
               (2)  the numbers of half-day and full-day
  prekindergarten classes offered by the district and campus;
               (3)  the number of half-day prekindergarten classes for
  which the district has received an exemption from full-day
  operation under Section 29.153(d);
               (4)  the sources of funding for the prekindergarten
  classes;
               (5)  the class size and ratio of instructional staff to
  students for each prekindergarten program class offered by the
  district and campus;
               (6)  if the district elects to administer an assessment
  instrument under Section 29.169 to students enrolled in district
  and campus prekindergarten program classes, a description and the
  results of each type of assessment instrument; and
               (7)  curricula used in the district's prekindergarten
  program classes.
         SECTION 3.  Section 29.1533, Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 29.1533.  ESTABLISHMENT AND EXPANSION OF [NEW]
  PREKINDERGARTEN PROGRAM.  Before establishing a new
  prekindergarten program or expanding an existing prekindergarten
  program, a school district shall solicit and consider proposals for
  partnerships to provide [consider the possibility of sharing use
  of an existing Head Start or other child-care program site as a]
  prekindergarten classes with community-based child-care providers
  who meet the requirements of Section 29.153(g) in a manner that
  allows the child to enroll in both the school district and the
  program provided by the community-based child-care provider
  [site].
         SECTION 4.  Section 29.154, Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 29.154.  EVALUATION OF PREKINDERGARTEN PROGRAMS.  The
  commissioner of education, in consultation with the executive
  commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission and the
  commissioners of the Texas Workforce Commission [human services],
  shall monitor and annually evaluate prekindergarten programs as to
  their developmental appropriateness.  The commissioners shall also
  evaluate the potential for coordination on a statewide basis of
  prekindergarten programs with community-based [government-funded]
  early childhood care and education programs such as child care
  administered under Chapter 44, Human Resources Code, and federal
  Head Start programs.  [That evaluation shall use recommendations
  contained in the report to the 71st Legislature required by Chapter
  717, Acts of the 70th Legislature, Regular Session, 1987.]  For the
  purpose of providing cost-effective care for children during the
  full workday with developmentally appropriate curriculum, the
  commissioners shall investigate the use of existing child-care
  program sites as prekindergarten sites.  Following the evaluation
  required by this section, the commissioners, in cooperation with
  school districts and other program administrators, shall integrate
  programs, staff, and program sites for prekindergarten,
  child-care, and federal Head Start programs to the greatest extent
  possible.
         SECTION 5.  Section 29.168(b), Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (b)  The agency shall collaborate with other state agencies,
  including the Health and Human Services Commission, that provide
  services for children from birth through five years of age to
  establish prioritized family engagement strategies to be included
  in a school district's family engagement plan. A parent-teacher
  organization, community group, or faith-based institution may
  submit to the agency recommendations regarding the establishment of
  family engagement strategies, and the agency, in establishing the
  family engagement strategies, shall consider any received
  recommendations. The engagement strategies must:
               (1)  be based on empirical research;
               (2)  be proven to demonstrate significant positive
  short-term and long-term outcomes for early childhood education;
  [and]
               (3)  include programs and interventions that engage a
  family in supporting a student's learning at home; and
               (4)  include strategies for collaborating with Head
  Start and other community-based child-care programs.
         SECTION 6.  Section 29.169(a), Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (a)  A school district shall:
               (1)  select and implement appropriate methods for
  evaluating the district's program classes by measuring student
  progress; [and]
               (2)  make data from the results of program evaluations
  available to parents; and
               (3)  include in evaluating the district's program:
                     (A)  an analysis of Head Start and other
  community-based child-care programs in the community with which the
  district could establish partnerships; and
                     (B)  strategies identified for collaborating and
  partnering with Head Start and other community-based child-care
  programs to provide more options for early learning and improve
  kindergarten readiness.
         SECTION 7.  This Act applies beginning with the 2023-2024
  school year.
         SECTION 8.  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, 2023.