Bill status updated on Friday, May 7

Early Childhood Workforce Retention and Support

• HB 619-- Strengthen the Early Childhood Workforce by building a strategic plan to improve credentials, education, fair compensation, and better utilization of the Texas Early Childhood Professional Development System and Workforce Registry for early childhood educators teaching in programs today as well as building the workforce of tomorrow CONTENT | TRACK | STATUS: Passed by the House and referred to the Senate

Early Education Funding

• HB 1964-- Require the Texas Workforce Commission to conduct a study examining the true cost of providing quality child care in Texas. With this information, TWC will be able to compare current reimbursement rates with the true costs of providing care. CONTENT | TRACK | STATUS: Pending in Committee
• HB 1364/ SB 971-- Allows for local flexibility between Local Workforce Boards and child care providers to increase utilization and maximize seats through contracted slots agreements. These agreements provide stability and supply of high-quality programs for special populations who are in need of enrollment. HB 1364: CONTENT | TRACK | STATUS: Passed out of Committee; Considered in Calendars Committee || SB 971: CONTENT | TRACK | STATUS: Pending in Education Committee (Testimony received during Public Hearing on April 27) 

Improve Measures Related to High Quality Early Childhood Education

• HB 41-- Requires school districts to maintain a 1 to 11 pre-k ratio with a class size of 22 with one certified teacher and teacher's aide. CONTENT | TRACK | STATUS: Passed out of Committee; Considered in Calendars Committee
• HB 1695/ SB 1555-- Aligns Child Care Regulation (CCR) and TWC nomenclature and adjusting reimbursement rates by aligning definitions of age groups which will more adequately support child care providers who adhere to CCR's Minimum Standards and accept TWC's child care subsidies. HB 1695: CONTENT | TRACK || SB 1555: CONTENT | TRACK | STATUS: Passed in Senate and House; Sent to Governor
• HB 1792/ SB 694-- Improve the Texas Rising Star system by allowing having a single entity oversee the statewide system of qualified assessors to evaluate child care providers participating in TRS. HB 1792: CONTENT | TRACK | STATUS: Passed in House; Pending in Senate Health and Human Services Committee || SB 694: CONTENT | TRACK | Referred to Committee
• HB 2607-- Requires child care providers caring for children receiving subsidy child care benefits to participate in Texas Rising Star with a phased-in approach. This will insure all children receive a high-quality early childhood education. CONTENT | TRACK | STATUS: Passed by the House and referred to the Senate

English Learners Initiative

• HB 2256/ SB 1101-- Creates a new Certificate in Bilingual Special Education which allows for educators to bring together the education and skills needed to address the unique needs of students with disabilities and delays in a culturally and linguistically responsive way. HB 2256: CONTENT | TRACK | STATUS: Passed by the House and referred to the Senate || SB 1101: CONTENT | TRACK | Referred to Senate Education Committee
• HB 2258/ SB 560-- Develops a state strategic plan to improve access to bilingual education with the goals to increase the number of educators certified in bilingual education, increase the availability of high-quality dual language classes in pre-k through 12th grade as well as the number of students who graduate high school bilingual or multilingual. HB 2258: CONTENT | TRACK | STATUS: Passed out of Committee and reported to Calendar Committee || SB 560: CONTENT | TRACK | STATUS: Passed by the Senate and referred to House Committee on Public Education