Phelan says free pre-k for teachers a priority for Legislature
A measure to provide free pre-k for teachers was named by Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan as a priority for this year’s legislative session.
The bill, authored by Rep. Harold Dutton, D-houston, is part of a suite of policies aimed at making life better for Texas teachers as the state grapples with a shortage of educators. Those in the field have reported widespread dissatisfaction with the workload and pay, as well as saying they don’t feel supported by the state’s political leaders.
Phelan pledged “meaningful action” on policies “that better support our teachers — beginning with recruitment and ending with retirement.”
Dutton’s bill also would restructure the minimum salary range for new teachers so that those with differing certifications or levels of experience in outside fields could be entitled to higher levels of starting pay.
If it is passed by both the House and the Texas Senate and signed by Gov. Abbott, children of public school teachers employed by school districts would be entitled to enroll in pre-k programs offered by that district.
Texas, like most states, does not offer universal pre-k. Those that do are Florida, Oklahoma, Vermont and Wisconsin. Washington, D.C., also does. California is in the process of instituting a free program 4-year-olds. Research has overwhelmingly found that early education access leads to long-term benefits for children, but it can be very expensive.
There is already an existing free pre-k program in Texas, but it is limited.
Under state law, the following children are eligible for free pre-k: those still learning English, those whose families are financially eligible for the national school lunch program, those who are homeless or who have ever been in the foster care system, children of active-duty military members or National Guard members and children of first responders who died in the line of duty.
For children who do not qualify for the free program, Texas school districts charge as much as $6,000 a year.