Pre-Kindergarten
Pre-K is a state funded program for preschool age children that offers a developmentally appropriate and academically rich curriculum designed to prepare children to be “school ready.” The curriculum follows the Texas Pre-K Curriculum Guidelines, and NAEYC developmentally appropriate practices. The curriculum stresses language development, mathematics, emergent literacy, phonemic awareness, and social-emotional development.
Pre-K children are given the same range of educational, disabilities, parent involvement, mental health, and social services received by Head Start children. Pre-K children do not receive the comprehensive medical and dental services provided to Head Start children, however, collaboration agreements have been written with community service providers to cover these children’s needs.
Pre-K children are given the same range of educational, disabilities, parent involvement, mental health, and social services received by Head Start children. Pre-K children do not receive the comprehensive medical and dental services provided to Head Start children, however, collaboration agreements have been written with community service providers to cover these children’s needs.
Because of limited space, the AISD program serves only four-year-old children in Pre-K. Children qualify for Pre-K by: meeting the USDA free or reduced lunch guidelines, being a military dependent, being designated as having limited English proficiency, being or having been in the conservatorship of CPS, or by being homeless as defined by the McKinney-Vento Act.
Pre-K Qualifications
To be eligible for enrollment in a free prekindergarten class, a child must be at least three years of age on or before September 1 of the current school year (if a 3-year-old program is available) or four years of age on or before September 1 of the current school year and meet at least one of the following eligibility requirements:
- unable to speak and comprehend the English language
- is educationally disadvantaged (eligible to participate in the national school lunch program… guidelines about NSLP eligibility can be found in sections 4 and 6 of the Texas Department of Agriculture’s Administrators Reference Manual)
- is homeless, as defined by 42 USC, §11434a, regardless of the residence of the child, of either parent of the child, or of the child’s guardian or other person having lawful control of the child
- is the child of an active duty member of the armed forces of the United States, including the state military forces or a reserve component of the armed forces, who is ordered to active duty by proper authority
- is the child of a member of the armed forces of the United States, including the state military forces or a reserve component of the armed forces, who was injured or killed while serving on active duty
- is or has ever been in the conservatorship of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (foster care) following an adversary hearing held as provided by Family Code §262.201
- is the child of a person eligible for the Star of Texas Award as:
- a peace officer under Texas Government Code §3106.002,
- a firefighter under Texas Government Code §3106.003
- emergency medical first responder under Texas Government Code §3106.004
Eligibility applies to three-year-olds when a three-year-old program is available.