The bill, H.B. No. 358, aims to provide free full-day prekindergarten for certain children in Texas. It amends existing provisions in the Education Code to expand eligibility for prekindergarten classes. Notably, it allows school districts to offer prekindergarten classes to any child who is at least four years old, rather than requiring the identification of 15 or more eligible children. The bill also clarifies that children who are at least three years old may be eligible if they meet specific criteria, including being unable to speak and comprehend English, being educationally disadvantaged, or being the child of an active duty military member, among others. Additionally, the bill mandates that prekindergarten classes must be operated on a full-day basis.

Further amendments include the requirement for school districts to report demographic information and other relevant data regarding prekindergarten classes in their Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS) reports. The bill specifies that districts may not charge tuition for prekindergarten classes and outlines the conditions under which a district may be exempt from certain requirements. The provisions of this act are set to take effect starting with the 2025-2026 school year, with immediate effect possible if it receives a two-thirds vote from both houses of the legislature.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Education Code 29.1531, Education Code 29.1532 (Education Code 29)