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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a grant program to provide free or reduced-tuition |
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prekindergarten classes to certain children. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. 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. FREE AND REDUCED-TUITION PREKINDERGARTEN |
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GRANT PROGRAM. (a) From money appropriated or otherwise available |
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for the purpose, the commissioner, in collaboration with the Pre-K |
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4 SA early childhood initiative, shall establish and administer a |
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grant program to support school districts, open-enrollment charter |
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schools, and private schools in providing free or reduced-tuition |
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prekindergarten classes to eligible children. |
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(b) A school district, open-enrollment charter school, or |
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private school shall use money received under the grant program to |
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provide free or reduced-tuition prekindergarten classes to |
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eligible children. |
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(c) A child is eligible to enroll in a prekindergarten class |
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described by Subsection (b) if the child is at least three years of |
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age. |
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(d) To the extent consistent with state and federal law, a |
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prekindergarten class provided using money received under the grant |
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program must be operated in accordance with any curriculum and |
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teaching methods implemented by the Pre-K 4 SA early childhood |
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initiative. |
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(e) Not later than September 1 of each year, the |
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commissioner shall prepare and submit to the legislature a report |
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on the grant program under this section. The report must include: |
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(1) an evaluation of the academic and developmental |
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achievements of students enrolled in a prekindergarten class using |
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money received under the grant program; and |
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(2) any recommendations for legislative or other |
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action. |
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(f) The commissioner shall adopt rules as necessary to |
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establish and administer the grant program under this section. |
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(g) The grant program is abolished and this section expires |
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January 1, 2031. |
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SECTION 2. Not later than September 1, 2026, the |
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commissioner of education shall submit the initial report required |
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by Section 29.1535, Education Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act applies beginning with the 2025-2026 |
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school year. |
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SECTION 4. 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, 2025. |