89R13492 KJE-F
By: Reynolds H.B. No. 3297
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of the Texas prekindergarten fund to
support public school prekindergarten education.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter E, Chapter 29, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 29.1555 to read as follows:
Sec. 29.1555. TEXAS PREKINDERGARTEN FUND. (a) In this
section, "fund" means the Texas prekindergarten fund established
under this section.
(b) The Texas prekindergarten fund is a dedicated account in
the general revenue fund.
(c) The fund consists of:
(1) money appropriated or transferred to the fund;
(2) any revenue that by law is dedicated for deposit to
the credit of the fund;
(3) interest and investment earnings on money in the
fund; and
(4) money from gifts, grants, or donations to the
fund.
(d) Money in the fund may be used only to:
(1) expand access to high quality prekindergarten
programs for eligible children;
(2) provide financial assistance to school districts
and open-enrollment charter schools that offer prekindergarten;
(3) support professional development and training for
teachers who teach prekindergarten; and
(4) enhance facilities and instructional resources
for prekindergarten programs.
(e) The agency shall allocate money appropriated from the
fund to school districts and open-enrollment charter schools:
(1) based on:
(A) the percentage of educationally
disadvantaged students enrolled in the district or school;
(B) geographic and demographic needs at the
district or school; and
(C) the district's or school's compliance with
the standards for high quality prekindergarten programs under
Subchapter E-1; and
(2) prioritizing districts and schools that:
(A) serve low-income families;
(B) serve rural and underserved communities; or
(C) offer a prekindergarten program that
demonstrates high performance in early childhood education
outcomes.
(f) Not later than September 1 of each year, the agency
shall submit to the governor and the legislature a report on:
(1) the distribution of money appropriated from the
fund during the preceding school year;
(2) the impact of prekindergarten programs that
received money appropriated from the fund on student performance
during the preceding school year; and
(3) recommendations for legislative or other action.
(g) The commissioner shall adopt rules as necessary to
implement this section.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.