(a) The commissioner shall establish and administer a strong foundations grant program for campuses or a program at a campus serving students enrolled in prekindergarten through grade five to implement a rigorous school approach that combines high-quality instruction, materials, and support structures.
(b) The commissioner shall adopt components that school districts, open-enrollment charter schools, and campuses of the districts or schools must implement under the strong foundations grant program. The components must include:
(1) use of high-quality instructional materials, curricula, and curricular tools;
(2) use of aligned diagnostic and formative assessments;
(3) aligned professional supports;
(4) practices designed to ensure high-quality supports for students with disabilities;
(5) evidence-based practices to increase and maintain parental engagement; and
(6) measurement of fidelity of implementation of the program.
(c) Grants provided under the strong foundations grant program may be in the form of funds, in-kind resources, or both.
(d) The commissioner shall use funds appropriated, federal funds, and other funds available for the strong foundations grant program to assist school districts and open-enrollment charter schools in implementing the program.
(e) A school district or open-enrollment charter school that receives grant funds under this section may use the funds to:
(1) financially support or train or otherwise prepare educators and other staff;
(2) pay for agreements with other entities to provide prekindergarten services; or
(3) pay for accelerated instruction provided under Section 28.0211.
(f) The commissioner may accept gifts, grants, and donations from any source, including private and nonprofit organizations, for the program. A private or nonprofit organization that contributes to the program may receive an award under Section 7.113.