| 1 | 1 | | 84R13181 T |
|---|
| 2 | 2 | | By: Coleman H.B. No. 2217 |
|---|
| 3 | 3 | | |
|---|
| 4 | 4 | | |
|---|
| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
|---|
| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
|---|
| 7 | 7 | | relating to the availability of free prekindergarten programs in |
|---|
| 8 | 8 | | public schools. |
|---|
| 9 | 9 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|---|
| 10 | 10 | | SECTION 1. In 2005, I filed a version of this bill because I |
|---|
| 11 | 11 | | strongly believe in the need for early child education. I along |
|---|
| 12 | 12 | | with millions of other children who were born into families with |
|---|
| 13 | 13 | | adequate means have benefitted from the great advantage that |
|---|
| 14 | 14 | | pre-kindergarten education provides, and I will continue my efforts |
|---|
| 15 | 15 | | to make sure that these advantages are available to everyone. |
|---|
| 16 | 16 | | Ensuring that all Texas children receive the benefit of early |
|---|
| 17 | 17 | | childhood education is an important part of securing the future of |
|---|
| 18 | 18 | | this state. |
|---|
| 19 | 19 | | SECTION 2. Sections 29.153(a) and (b), Education Code, are |
|---|
| 20 | 20 | | amended to read as follows: |
|---|
| 21 | 21 | | (a) A district shall offer prekindergarten classes if the |
|---|
| 22 | 22 | | district identifies 15 or more children who are [eligible under |
|---|
| 23 | 23 | | Subsection (b) and are] at least four years of age. A school |
|---|
| 24 | 24 | | district may offer prekindergarten classes if the district |
|---|
| 25 | 25 | | identifies 15 or more eligible children who are at least three years |
|---|
| 26 | 26 | | of age. A district may not charge tuition for a prekindergarten |
|---|
| 27 | 27 | | class offered under this section. |
|---|
| 28 | 28 | | (b) A child is eligible for enrollment in a prekindergarten |
|---|
| 29 | 29 | | class under this section if the child is: |
|---|
| 30 | 30 | | (1) at least three years of age and is: |
|---|
| 31 | 31 | | (A) [(1)] unable to speak and comprehend the |
|---|
| 32 | 32 | | English language; |
|---|
| 33 | 33 | | (B) [(2)] educationally disadvantaged; or |
|---|
| 34 | 34 | | (C) [(3)] homeless, as defined by 42 U.S.C. |
|---|
| 35 | 35 | | Section 11302, regardless of the residence of the child, of either |
|---|
| 36 | 36 | | parent of the child, or of the child's guardian or other person |
|---|
| 37 | 37 | | having lawful control of the child; or |
|---|
| 38 | 38 | | (2) at least four years of age. |
|---|
| 39 | 39 | | SECTION 3. Section 29.1532(c), Education Code, is amended |
|---|
| 40 | 40 | | to read as follows: |
|---|
| 41 | 41 | | (c) A school district that offers prekindergarten classes |
|---|
| 42 | 42 | | shall include the following information in the district's Public |
|---|
| 43 | 43 | | Education Information Management System (PEIMS) report: |
|---|
| 44 | 44 | | (1) demographic information, as determined by the |
|---|
| 45 | 45 | | commissioner, on students enrolled in district prekindergarten |
|---|
| 46 | 46 | | classes, including the number of students who are eligible for |
|---|
| 47 | 47 | | classes under Section 29.153(b)(1) [29.153]; |
|---|
| 48 | 48 | | (2) the numbers of half-day and full-day |
|---|
| 49 | 49 | | prekindergarten classes offered by the district; and |
|---|
| 50 | 50 | | (3) the sources of funding for the prekindergarten |
|---|
| 51 | 51 | | classes. |
|---|
| 52 | 52 | | SECTION 4. Section 29.153(d), Education Code, is repealed. |
|---|
| 53 | 53 | | SECTION 5. This Act applies beginning with the 2015-2016 |
|---|
| 54 | 54 | | school year. |
|---|
| 55 | 55 | | SECTION 6. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
|---|
| 56 | 56 | | a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
|---|
| 57 | 57 | | provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
|---|
| 58 | 58 | | Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
|---|
| 59 | 59 | | Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |
|---|