Pre-K Matters

Why Pre-K Matters

Will your child be four years of age on or before September 1st of the upcoming school year? It's time to start thinking about pre-kindergarten!

 

You could probably guess that sending a child to pre-kindergarten results in better kindergarten readiness, improved vocabulary, and enhanced reading skills.

 

But did you know that the benefits of Pre-K go far beyond their school years and into their adult lives? Starting at age four, nationwide studies reveal that investing early in a child’s education by sending them to pre-kindergarten yields a long list of benefits that go beyond test scores and into the very fabric of their, and our, futures. 

Pre-K (Free for students who qualify under federal guidelines)

  • Early learning academy at central pumphrey and san jacinto logo

    Overview

    Are you interested in boosting your prekindergarten child’s development?

     

    Our Early Learning Academy, in partnership with Fueling Brains, uses a research-led approach to provide prekindergarten students with the knowledge and skills to start on the road to success.

     

    Students will have the opportunity to build their creativity and curiosity through interest-led learning in a state-of-the-art facility with thematic, hands-on classrooms. Students and teachers will rotate through the thematic classrooms every two weeks.

     

    Classrooms provide group and individualized lessons that support students’ development and increase their self-control, thinking, and problem-solving skills as they discover, explore, and connect to the world around them.

     

    Qualifications

    To be eligible for enrollment in a free pre-kindergarten class, a child must be at least four years of age on or before September 1st 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 an emergency medical first responder under Texas Government Code §3106.004

    Location

    • Hopper
    • Sheila Liles Early Learning Academy
    • Pumphrey
    • San Jacinto

     

    Cost

    FREE!

     

  • Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) is a state and federally mandated program for young children with disabilities ages 3-5. Eligible children with disabilities, ages 3-5, are entitled to receive a free appropriate public education (FAPE) under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part B, Section 619 in the least restrictive environment (LRE) in accordance with their individual needs. (Student must qualify)

     

    Child-Find-Locating

    The Goose Creek school district is responsible for identifying, locating, and evaluating any child (ages birth-21) with known or suspected disabilities who reside within the school district's boundaries to determine whether a need for special education and related services exist.

     

    Learn more about child-find-locating here.

     

    Qualifications

    To be eligible for enrollment in a free pre-kindergarten class, a child must be at least four years of age on or before September 1st 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 an emergency medical first responder under Texas Government Code §3106.004

Pre-K (Tuition Only)

  • goose creek cisd steam prek academy at austin and walker logo

    Overview

    Give your pre-kindergarten child the opportunity to learn more about Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math!

     

    Goose Creek CISD’s STEAM Early Learning Academy will prepare pre-kindergarten students in our community to be life-long thinkers, creators, and doers by immersing them in daily, hands-on Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math activities.

     

    Students will have the opportunity to grow their knowledge and skills through an inquiry-based approach that encourages them to observe, explore, question, investigate and express themselves daily as they learn about the world around them.

     

    Our STEAM classrooms provide immersive experiences that encourage hands-on learning. In addition, visitors and/or field experiences tied to units of study will deepen students' understanding of their learning and provide students the opportunity to make real-world connections. The STEAM Early Learning Academy will be offered at Stephen F. Austin Elementary. Students do not have to be zoned to this campus to qualify.

     

    Qualifications

    • To be eligible for enrollment in a STEAM pre-kindergarten class, a child must be at least four years of age on or before September 1st of the current school year.
    • Students must qualify based on student observational inventory
    • All students must be toilet-trained
    • Family must be able to provide transportation to and from Austin Elementary.

     

    Location

    • Stephen F. Austin

     

    Cost

    $500/month

     

    Enrollment

    Space is limited based off of student observational inventory.