84R10720 JSL-F
By: Zaffirini, Campbell S.B. No. 801
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a high quality prekindergarten program provided by
public school districts.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 12.104(b), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(b) An open-enrollment charter school is subject to:
(1) a provision of this title establishing a criminal
offense; and
(2) a prohibition, restriction, or requirement, as
applicable, imposed by this title or a rule adopted under this
title, relating to:
(A) the Public Education Information Management
System (PEIMS) to the extent necessary to monitor compliance with
this subchapter as determined by the commissioner;
(B) criminal history records under Subchapter C,
Chapter 22;
(C) reading instruments and accelerated reading
instruction programs under Section 28.006;
(D) accelerated instruction under Section
28.0211;
(E) high school graduation requirements under
Section 28.025;
(F) special education programs under Subchapter
A, Chapter 29;
(G) bilingual education under Subchapter B,
Chapter 29;
(H) prekindergarten programs under Subchapter E
or E-1, Chapter 29;
(I) extracurricular activities under Section
33.081;
(J) discipline management practices or behavior
management techniques under Section 37.0021;
(K) health and safety under Chapter 38;
(L) public school accountability under
Subchapters B, C, D, E, F, G, and J, Chapter 39;
(M) the requirement under Section 21.006 to
report an educator's misconduct; and
(N) intensive programs of instruction under
Section 28.0213.
SECTION 2. Section 25.001(a), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a) A person who, on the first day of September of any school
year, is at least five years of age and under 21 years of age, or is
at least 21 years of age and under 26 years of age and is admitted by
a school district to complete the requirements for a high school
diploma is entitled to the benefits of the available school fund for
that year. Any other person enrolled in a prekindergarten class
under Section 29.153 or Subchapter E-1, Chapter 29, is entitled to
the benefits of the available school fund.
SECTION 3. Chapter 29, Education Code, is amended by adding
Subchapter E-1 to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER E-1. HIGH QUALITY PREKINDERGARTEN PROGRAM
Sec. 29.164. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "program"
means a high quality prekindergarten program provided free of
tuition or fees in accordance with this subchapter.
Sec. 29.165. HIGH QUALITY PREKINDERGARTEN PROGRAM. (a) From
funds appropriated for that purpose, the commissioner by rule shall
establish a funding program under which funds are awarded to school
districts and open-enrollment charter schools to implement a
prekindergarten program under this subchapter.
(b) A school district may participate in and receive funding
under the program if the district meets all program standards
required under this subchapter.
(c) A program is subject to any other requirements imposed
by law that apply to a prekindergarten program not provided in
accordance with this subchapter, except that to the extent a
conflict exists between this subchapter and any other provision of
law, this subchapter prevails.
Sec. 29.166. HIGH QUALITY PROGRAM FUNDING. (a) In addition
to funding granted under Subsection (b), a school district is
eligible for half-day funding under the Foundation School Program
for students enrolled in a program class.
(b) A school district is entitled to receive additional
funding in an amount determined by the commissioner for each
qualifying student described under Subsection (c) in average daily
attendance in a program class.
(c) A student qualifies for additional funding under
Subsection (b) if the student is four years of age on September 1 of
the year the student begins the program.
(d) A school district that receives the funding under this
section may use the funding only to improve the quality of the
district's prekindergarten programs.
Sec. 29.167. HIGH QUALITY CURRICULUM AND TEACHER
REQUIREMENTS. (a) A school district shall select and implement a
curriculum for a prekindergarten program under this subchapter that
includes the prekindergarten guidelines established by the agency
and measures the progress of students in meeting the recommended
learning outcomes.
(b) Each teacher for a program class must be certified under
Subchapter B, Chapter 21.
Sec. 29.168. PARENT ENGAGEMENT PLAN. A school district
shall develop and implement a parent engagement plan to assist the
district in achieving and maintaining high levels of parental
involvement and positive parental attitudes toward education.
Sec. 29.169. PROGRAM EVALUATION. 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.
Sec. 29.170. PROGRAM FUNDING EVALUATION. (a) The
commissioner shall evaluate the use and effectiveness of funding
provided under this subchapter in improving student learning. The
commissioner shall identify effective instruction strategies
implemented by school districts under this subchapter.
(b) Not later than December 1, 2018, the commissioner shall
deliver a report to the legislature containing the results of the
evaluation.
(c) This section expires December 31, 2018.
Sec. 29.171. RULES. The commissioner may adopt rules
necessary to implement this subchapter.
SECTION 4. Section 42.003(b), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(b) A student to whom Subsection (a) does not apply is
entitled to the benefits of the Foundation School Program if the
student is enrolled in a prekindergarten class under Section 29.153
or Subchapter E-1, Chapter 29.
SECTION 5. This Act applies beginning with the 2015-2016
school year.
SECTION 6. 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, 2015.