Reynolds’s bill creating the Texas prekindergarten fund

The text as introduced · 376 words

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.