The bill, H.B. No. 190, proposes the establishment of a grant program aimed at providing free or reduced-tuition prekindergarten classes to eligible children in Texas. It introduces a new section, 29.1535, to the Education Code, which outlines the responsibilities of the commissioner of education in collaboration with the Pre-K 4 SA early childhood initiative to administer this program. The program will support school districts, open-enrollment charter schools, and private schools in offering these prekindergarten classes, with eligibility extending to children who are at least three years old. The bill mandates that the funds received through the grant must be used specifically for this purpose and requires compliance with the curriculum and teaching methods established by the Pre-K 4 SA initiative.

Additionally, the bill stipulates that the commissioner must prepare and submit an annual report to the legislature evaluating the program's effectiveness and providing recommendations for future actions. The grant program is set to expire on January 1, 2031, and the initial report is due by September 1, 2026. The implementation of this act is scheduled to begin with the 2025-2026 school year, and it will take effect immediately if it secures a two-thirds majority vote in both houses; otherwise, it will take effect on September 1, 2025.

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