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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of the Texas prekindergarten fund to |
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support public school prekindergarten education. |
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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 29.1555 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 29.1555. TEXAS PREKINDERGARTEN FUND. (a) In this |
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section, "fund" means the Texas prekindergarten fund established |
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under this section. |
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(b) The Texas prekindergarten fund is a dedicated account in |
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the general revenue fund. |
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(c) The fund consists of: |
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(1) money appropriated or transferred to the fund; |
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(2) any revenue that by law is dedicated for deposit to |
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the credit of the fund; |
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(3) interest and investment earnings on money in the |
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fund; and |
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(4) money from gifts, grants, or donations to the |
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fund. |
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(d) Money in the fund may be used only to: |
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(1) expand access to high quality prekindergarten |
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programs for eligible children; |
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(2) provide financial assistance to school districts |
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and open-enrollment charter schools that offer prekindergarten; |
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(3) support professional development and training for |
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teachers who teach prekindergarten; and |
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(4) enhance facilities and instructional resources |
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for prekindergarten programs. |
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(e) The agency shall allocate money appropriated from the |
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fund to school districts and open-enrollment charter schools: |
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(1) based on: |
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(A) the percentage of educationally |
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disadvantaged students enrolled in the district or school; |
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(B) geographic and demographic needs at the |
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district or school; and |
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(C) the district's or school's compliance with |
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the standards for high quality prekindergarten programs under |
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Subchapter E-1; and |
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(2) prioritizing districts and schools that: |
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(A) serve low-income families; |
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(B) serve rural and underserved communities; or |
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(C) offer a prekindergarten program that |
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demonstrates high performance in early childhood education |
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outcomes. |
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(f) Not later than September 1 of each year, the agency |
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shall submit to the governor and the legislature a report on: |
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(1) the distribution of money appropriated from the |
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fund during the preceding school year; |
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(2) the impact of prekindergarten programs that |
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received money appropriated from the fund on student performance |
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during the preceding school year; and |
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(3) recommendations for legislative or other action. |
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(g) The commissioner shall adopt rules as necessary to |
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implement this section. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |