The agency must create and carry out a strategic plan to improve early learning and education for young children with disabilities or developmental delays.
Sec. 29.0091. STRATEGIC PLAN TO IMPROVE AND EXPAND EARLY LEARNING AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES. (a) The agency, in collaboration with the Health and Human Services Commission and the Texas Workforce Commission, shall develop and implement a strategic plan to improve early learning and educational opportunities for young children with disabilities or developmental delays. (b) In developing the strategic plan, the agency, in coordination with the Health and Human Services Commission and the Texas Workforce Commission, shall: (1) develop strategies for the inclusion of children with disabilities in early childhood education settings; (2) consider topics and existing barriers relating to ensuring, and any changes to existing practices or policies necessary to ensure, more effective inclusion of children with disabilities in early learning programs, including in: (A) prekindergarten programs under Subchapter E, including prekindergarten programs provided under a partnership between school districts and community-based child-care providers; (B) early childhood special education settings; and (C) child-care programs participating in the Texas Workforce Commission's subsidized child-care program; and (3) coordinate with, at a minimum, representatives of state, regional, and local agencies, the governor's Texas Early Learning Council, nonprofit organizations, and relevant social services providers. (c) The strategic plan must include: (1) the strategies for the inclusion of children with disabilities in early childhood education settings developed under Subsection (b)(1) signed by the commissioner, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission, and the executive director of the Texas Workforce Commission; (2) a description of existing barriers to the effective inclusion of children with disabilities in early learning programs; (3) recommendations for statutory, regulatory, guidance, or funding changes, and policy implementation changes, necessary to improve the inclusion of young children with disabilities in early childhood education programs; and (4) current and proposed strategies and recommendations to achieve: (A) improved provider staffing, training, sustainability, and effectiveness across public schools, child-care programs, and early childhood intervention services providers that serve young children with disabilities; (B) the effective leveraging of existing funding and resources; (C) streamlined transitions for families: (i) from early childhood intervention programs to early childhood special education programs; and (ii) from early childhood special education programs to special education programs; and (D) improved collaboration and partnerships between child-care programs, early childhood intervention services providers, and public schools. (d) Not later than September 1 of the last state fiscal year in each four-year period covered by the most recent strategic plan: (1) the agency shall update the strategic plan for the subsequent four-year period; (2) the agency shall submit the updated strategic plan developed under Subdivision (1) to the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of representatives; and (3) the agency, the Health and Human Services Commission, and the Texas Workforce Commission shall publish the updated strategic plan developed under Subdivision (1) on the agencies' respective Internet websites. Added by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 588 (H.B. 2310), Sec. 1, eff. June 20, 2025.