House Education Committee Passes FCCB Supported Bills

Early Learning and Early Grade Success
HB 419 (Grall) streamlines agency oversight of the Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (VPK) Program, reasonably and effectively increases accountability for VPK providers, and provides more useful and accurate assessments to monitor student progress. The bill passed (20-1). The Senate companion, SB 1282 (Harrell), waits to be heard by its final committee of reference, Appropriations.

Educator Preparation and Certification
HB 1159 (Busatta Cabrera) revises provisions relating to state-approved teacher preparation, career and professional development programs. The bill passed unanimously. Its companion, SB 934 (Wright), waits to be heard by its final committee of reference, Appropriations.

Reproductive Health and Disease Education
HB 545 (Chaney) requires school districts to make sex education curriculum and instructional materials available to parents via a link on the district website. It also requires district school boards to annually approve all instructional materials used to teach reproductive health in an open, noticed public meeting. The bill passed (18-2). The companion, SB 410 (Rodriguez, A.), waits to be heard by its final committee of reference, Rules.

Purple Star Campuses
HB 429 (Learned) requires the Department of Education to establish a Purple Star Campus Program to assist students from military families as they transition to new schools. The bill passed unanimously. The companion, SB 938 (Wright), waits to be heard its final committee of reference, Appropriations.