Texas House Bill HB173

Texas 2015 - 84th Regular

• Filed: 11/10/14

Caption

Relating to information reported by a public school district regarding prekindergarten classes.

Impact

The implementation of HB 173 could have a significant impact on how prekindergarten programs in Texas are evaluated and funded. By standardizing the information that school districts are required to report, the state can better assess the effectiveness of prekindergarten services and ensure compliance with education standards. This move is expected to enhance accountability and provide clearer insights into the availability and quality of early childhood education across the state.

Summary

House Bill 173 aims to amend the Education Code concerning the reporting of information by public school districts regarding their prekindergarten classes. The bill specifies new requirements for the data that school districts must include in their Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS) reports. This includes demographic information about students enrolled, the number of half-day and full-day classes offered, sources of funding, class sizes, and instructional staff ratios, as well as information about assessment instruments and their results.

Contention

While the bill is designed to improve data collection and reporting for prekindergarten programs, there could be potential contention regarding the impact on school district administrative burdens. Some may argue that the added reporting requirements could strain resources, particularly in smaller districts. Additionally, the discussion may center around how the demographic data collected will be used and whether it could affect funding decisions or allocation of resources moving forward.