88R13641 ANG-F     By: Talarico H.B. No. 4469       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to prekindergarten programs provided by public schools,   including through partnerships with certain community-based   child-care providers.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 29.1531(b), Education Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (b)  A district that offers a prekindergarten program on a   tuition basis:                (1)  may not adopt a tuition rate for the program that   is higher than necessary to cover the added costs of providing the   program, including any costs associated with collecting,   reporting, and analyzing data under Section 29.1532(c); [and]                (2)  must submit the proposed tuition rate to the   commissioner for approval; and                (3)  must demonstrate that the capacity of   prekindergarten classes provided by existing Head Start or other   community-based child-care programs located in the district is   insufficient to meet the needs of the district.          SECTION 2.  Section 29.1532(c), Education Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (c)  A school district that offers prekindergarten classes   shall include the following information in the district's Public   Education Information Management System (PEIMS) report:                (1)  demographic information, as determined by the   commissioner, on students enrolled in district and campus   prekindergarten classes, including:                      (A)  the number of students who are eligible for   classes under Section 29.153;                      (B)  the number of students enrolled in classes   provided by Head Start or another community-based child-care   provider through a partnership with the district; and                      (C)  the number of students enrolled in   prekindergarten classes who are not eligible for prekindergarten   classes under Section 29.153;                (2)  the numbers of half-day and full-day   prekindergarten classes offered by the district and campus;                (3)  the number of half-day prekindergarten classes for   which the district has received an exemption from full-day   operation under Section 29.153(d);                (4)  the sources of funding for the prekindergarten   classes;                (5)  the class size and ratio of instructional staff to   students for each prekindergarten program class offered by the   district and campus;                (6)  if the district elects to administer an assessment   instrument under Section 29.169 to students enrolled in district   and campus prekindergarten program classes, a description and the   results of each type of assessment instrument; and                (7)  curricula used in the district's prekindergarten   program classes.          SECTION 3.  Section 29.1533, Education Code, is amended to   read as follows:          Sec. 29.1533.  ESTABLISHMENT AND EXPANSION OF [NEW]   PREKINDERGARTEN PROGRAM.  Before establishing a new   prekindergarten program or expanding an existing prekindergarten   program, a school district shall solicit and consider proposals for   partnerships to provide [consider the possibility of sharing use   of an existing Head Start or other child-care program site as a]   prekindergarten classes with community-based child-care providers   who meet the requirements of Section 29.153(g) in a manner that   allows the child to enroll in both the school district and the   program provided by the community-based child-care provider   [site].          SECTION 4.  Section 29.154, Education Code, is amended to   read as follows:          Sec. 29.154.  EVALUATION OF PREKINDERGARTEN PROGRAMS.  The   commissioner of education, in consultation with the executive   commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission and the   commissioners of the Texas Workforce Commission [human services],   shall monitor and annually evaluate prekindergarten programs as to   their developmental appropriateness.  The commissioners shall also   evaluate the potential for coordination on a statewide basis of   prekindergarten programs with community-based [government-funded]   early childhood care and education programs such as child care   administered under Chapter 44, Human Resources Code, and federal   Head Start programs.  [That evaluation shall use recommendations   contained in the report to the 71st Legislature required by Chapter   717, Acts of the 70th Legislature, Regular Session, 1987.]  For the   purpose of providing cost-effective care for children during the   full workday with developmentally appropriate curriculum, the   commissioners shall investigate the use of existing child-care   program sites as prekindergarten sites.  Following the evaluation   required by this section, the commissioners, in cooperation with   school districts and other program administrators, shall integrate   programs, staff, and program sites for prekindergarten,   child-care, and federal Head Start programs to the greatest extent   possible.          SECTION 5.  Section 29.168(b), Education Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (b)  The agency shall collaborate with other state agencies,   including the Health and Human Services Commission, that provide   services for children from birth through five years of age to   establish prioritized family engagement strategies to be included   in a school district's family engagement plan. A parent-teacher   organization, community group, or faith-based institution may   submit to the agency recommendations regarding the establishment of   family engagement strategies, and the agency, in establishing the   family engagement strategies, shall consider any received   recommendations. The engagement strategies must:                (1)  be based on empirical research;                (2)  be proven to demonstrate significant positive   short-term and long-term outcomes for early childhood education;   [and]                (3)  include programs and interventions that engage a   family in supporting a student's learning at home; and                (4)  include strategies for collaborating with Head   Start and other community-based child-care programs.          SECTION 6.  Section 29.169(a), Education Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (a)  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; and                (3)  include in evaluating the district's program:                      (A)  an analysis of Head Start and other   community-based child-care programs in the community with which the   district could establish partnerships; and                      (B)  strategies identified for collaborating and   partnering with Head Start and other community-based child-care   programs to provide more options for early learning and improve   kindergarten readiness.          SECTION 7.  This Act applies beginning with the 2023-2024   school year.          SECTION 8.  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, 2023.