McAllen ISD is set to welcome all four-year-old children to Pre-Kindergarten next year. Pre-Kinder is the way to establish a solid foundation to a child’s education, and now all children can participate at no cost.
In the past, certain criteria applied for students to qualify for Pre-Kinder or parents had to pay tuition, but now, the program is free to all children who meet the age requirement.
“Our world-class Pre-Kinder program is now open and free to all four-year-old children,” McAllen ISD Superintendent Dr. René Gutiérrez said. “Families no longer have to meet eligibility criteria to enroll in our Pre-K. This is big news and we are excited to welcome the class of 2038 this fall.”
In a unanimous decision, the Board of Trustees voted to make the change to the program at a meeting held January 22. Children who turn four on or before Sept. 1, 2024 are eligible.
Research across the nation shows that effective Pre-Kindergarten programs help students start Kindergarten with the skills they need to succeed by boosting early literacy and academic achievement.
Currently, McAllen ISD has nearly 1,250 students in its Pre-Kinder program across 18 elementary campuses.
Parents who wish to register their child for McAllen ISD’s free Pre-Kindergarten may use the district’s Skyward software system. If they do not have a Skyward account, they can contact an elementary campus or the office of Student Outreach at 956-687-MISD (6473) for more information.