HB 1048
AN ACT relating to providing free full-day prekindergarten for certain
89th Regular Session
Jan 14, 2025 - Jun 2, 2025 • Session ended
Awaiting Committee Assignment
Bill filed, pending referral to House committee
Committee
Not yet assigned
Fiscal Note
Not available
What This Bill Does
Expands free, full-day prekindergarten programs for children in Texas school districts. School districts must now offer free prekindergarten classes to children at least three years old, instead of the previous four-year-old requirement, and must provide full-day programming without charging tuition. The changes aim to increase early childhood education access, with implementation beginning in the 2025-2026 school year.
Subject Areas
Bill Text
relating to providing free full-day prekindergarten for certain BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 28.02124(a), Education Code, is amended (a) Subject to Subsection (c), a parent or guardian may (2) enroll in prekindergarten, if the student would have been eligible to enroll in prekindergarten during the previous school year under Section 29.153 [29.153(b)] and the student has not yet enrolled in kindergarten; (4) enroll in kindergarten, if the student would have been eligible to enroll in kindergarten in the previous school year and has not yet enrolled in first grade; or (5) for grades one through eight, repeat the grade in which the student was enrolled during the previous school year. SECTION 2. Sections 29.153(a-1), (c), (c-1), and (d), Education Code, are amended to read as follows: (a-1) A district shall offer prekindergarten classes to any child [if the district identifies 15 or more children] who is [are eligible under Subsection (b) and are] at least three [four] years of age. [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 (c-1) A prekindergarten class under this section [for children who are least four years of age] must comply with the program standards required for high quality prekindergarten (d) Subject to Subsections (d-1) and (d-2), on application of a district, the commissioner shall exempt a district from the application of all or any part of this section, including all or any part of Subchapter E-1 for a prekindergarten class described by Subsection (c-1), if the commissioner determines that[: [(1)] the district would be required to construct classroom facilities in order to provide prekindergarten classes[; [(2) implementing any part of this section would result in fewer eligible children being enrolled in a prekindergarten SECTION 3. Section 29.1531(a), Education Code, is amended (a) A school district may offer on a tuition basis or use [(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 4. Section 48.005(a), Education Code, is amended to (a) In this chapter, average daily attendance is: (1) the quotient of the sum of attendance for each day of the minimum number of days of instruction as described under Section 25.081(a) divided by the minimum number of days of (2) for a district that operates under a flexible year program under Section 29.0821, the quotient of the sum of attendance for each actual day of instruction as permitted by Section 29.0821(b)(1) divided by the number of actual days of instruction as permitted by Section 29.0821(b)(1); (3) for a district that operates under a flexible school day program under Section 29.0822, the average daily attendance as calculated by the commissioner in accordance with Sections 29.0822(d) and (d-1); or (4) for a district that operates [a half-day program or] a full-day program under Section 29.153(c), [one-half of] the average daily attendance calculated under Subdivision (1). SECTION 5. Sections 29.153(b), (e-1), and (f), Education SECTION 6. This Act applies beginning with the 2025-2026 SECTION 7. 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, 2025.
Bill Sponsors
Legislators who authored or co-sponsored this bill.
Bill History
Bill filed: AN ACT relating to providing free full-day prekindergarten for certain
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