Trustees consider expanding tuition-supported prekindergarten program

Trustees will consider a proposal at their March 23 board meeting to lower the cost of tuition and expand to 19 the number of campuses offering full-day tuition-based prekindergarten classes next school year.  Early Learning administrators made the proposal to board members at Thursday’s briefing based on the success of the current pilot program at four schools. The tuition option is available to families whose children are not eligible to attend the district’s free pre-K classes.

If approved by trustees, the cost of tuition would be reduced from the $700 per month charged this year to a monthly cost of $525 (or $5,250 annually) per student for the 2017-2018 school year.

The tuition option is limited to families who live within district boundaries, however participation is open to Dallas ISD employees who live outside the district. Seats in pre-K classrooms will be made available to families paying tuition on a first-come, first-served basis after all eligible students who have applied in round one are enrolled or have been offered enrollment.

Parents may begin applying for free and tuition-based pre-K spots on Monday, April 3, at their preferred campus or via the online link on the district’s website.

To be eligible for free pre-K, a child must meet these requirements:

• Be at least three years of age
• Be unable to speak and comprehend the English language;
• Be educationally disadvantaged;
• Be homeless, as defined by federal law;
• Be the child of an active duty member of the U.S. armed forces or one injured or killed while on active duty;
• Have been under the conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services

Based on board approval, it’s anticipated that seats in the tuition-based program will be available at one campus in each high school feeder pattern, including these schools: