Highlights of the 79th Texas Legislature - Senate

EDUCATION/PUBLIC
Requires a memorandum of understanding on child-care and early education cooperation and integration that
delineates duties and powers such as decision-making authority, uniform eligibility criteria, enrollment, uniform
calendars, and others.
Authorizes the State Center for Early Childhood Development, in conjunction with the P-16 Council to develop a
school readiness certification system, based on research on early childhood education and development, to measure
the effectiveness of prekindergarten programs, Head Start and Early Head Start programs, government-subsidized
child-care programs provided by nonprofit or for-profit entities, government-subsidized faith-based child-care
programs, and other government-subsidized child-care programs in preparing children for kindergarten, and to issue
certificates to providers who meet certain criteria.
Promoting Health in Public Schools—S.B. 42
By Senator Nelson et al.—House Sponsor: Representative Delisi
The incidence of childhood obesity is increasing in Texas and many children are at risk of developing heart disease,
stroke, high blood pressure, Type II diabetes, and certain cancers associated with overweight and obesity. This bill:
Requires enrichment curriculum to include health, with an emphasis on the importance of proper nutrition and
exercise.
Requires the State Board of Education (SBOE) to ensure that students in middle and junior high schools are allowed
to meet the physical activity requirement by participating in physical activity twice each week throughout the school
year or have the option to schedule at least two semesters overall.
Authorizes SBOE to take into account certain situations involving extracurricular and club-related events.
Requires SBOE, in consultation with the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) and the Texas Diabetes
Council, to develop a diabetes education program that a school district may use in the health curriculum.
Provides that SBOE rules may include an exception for a middle school or junior high school student who participates
in an extracurricular activity with a physical activity component that is considered a structured activity.
Requires a student who participates in a school-related activity or an activity sponsored by a private league or club to
provide proof of participation in the activity.
Requires SBOE, in consultation with DSHS, to encourage school districts to promote physical activity for children
through classroom curricula for health and physical education, to designate nationally recognized health and physical
education program guidelines that a school district may use in the health curriculum or the physical education
curriculum.
Prohibits SBOE, DSHS, or a school district from adopting any rule, policy, or program that would prohibit a parent or
grandparent of a student from providing any food product to children in the classroom on the child’s birthday; or
children at a school-designated function.
78 HIGHLIGHTS - 79 TH TEXAS LEGISLATURE