| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to providing free full-day prekindergarten for certain |
|
|
children. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Sections 29.153(a-1) and (c), Education Code, |
|
|
are amended to read as follows: |
|
|
(a-1) A district shall offer prekindergarten classes to any |
|
|
child who is at least four years of age if the district offers |
|
|
prekindergarten classes. If [if] the district identifies 15 or |
|
|
more children who are eligible under Subsection (b) and are at least |
|
|
four years of age the district shall offer a prekindergarten class. |
|
|
A school district may offer prekindergarten classes if the district |
|
|
identifies 15 or more eligible children who are at least three years |
|
|
of age. A district may not charge tuition for a prekindergarten |
|
|
class offered under this section. |
|
|
(c) A prekindergarten class under this section [may be |
|
|
operated on a half-day basis for children under four years of age |
|
|
and] shall be operated on a full-day basis [for children who are at |
|
|
least four years of age]. A district is not required to provide |
|
|
transportation for a prekindergarten class, but transportation, if |
|
|
provided, is included for funding purposes as part of the regular |
|
|
transportation system. |
|
|
SECTION 2. Section 29.1531(a), Education Code, is amended |
|
|
to read as follows: |
|
|
(a) A school district may offer on a tuition basis or use |
|
|
district funds to provide[: |
|
|
[(1) an additional half-day of prekindergarten |
|
|
classes to children who are eligible for classes under Section |
|
|
29.153 and are under four years of age; and |
|
|
[(2)] half-day and full-day prekindergarten classes |
|
|
to children not eligible for classes under Section 29.153. |
|
|
SECTION 3. This Act applies beginning with the 2021-2022 |
|
|
school year. |
|
|
SECTION 4. 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, 2021. |