Pre-K is free for every 4-year-old
There’s only one thing you have to do to qualify for free pre-K in the Arlington ISD.
Turn 4 years old by Sept. 1.
That’s it.
That’s because pre-K in the Arlington ISD is for every child.
Arlington ISD launched free universal pre-K 4 this year because of its commitment to every student and a full understanding of the power of pre-K.
“We made this decision with a powerful purpose because we know that every child deserves an opportunity to start their educational journey with success and a world-class education like the one that’s provided in Arlington ISD,” said Superintendent Dr. Marcelo Cavazos. “Arlington ISD owes it to our families to mitigate costs. We owe it to our little learners to have a foundation that will guide them for their future.”
Pre-K is the launching point for students for the rest of their educational journey.
Pre-K students get a jump start on reading and are usually ahead of their peers who wait until kindergarten to start school. It gets children ready to learn, teaches important social and emotional skills and fosters the development of verbal skills and self-control.
“Research demonstrates that high-quality preschool education can substantially increase children’s chances of succeeding in school and in life,” said Dr. Jackeline Orsini, Arlington ISD’s director of early childhood learning. “It helps build a strong foundation for kindergarten and sets them up for greater success in many areas of life.”
That’s exactly what Arlington ISD’s pre-K programs are designed to do. They inspire creativity and exploration in 3- and 4-year-olds and prepare them not only for kindergarten, but for their entire educational journey.
Full STEM Ahead!
Arlington ISD didn’t just make pre-K 4 free for every child this year, it also infused STEM into the fun, play-based curriculum.
The innovative STEM curriculum is all about hands-on discovery. Learning STEM at an early age gives students lots of opportunities to explore, hone their problem-solving skills, work on their fine and gross motor skills and develop critical thinking.
“Children love to learn by playing with hands-on and mind-on activities,” said Amos Elementary pre-K teacher Katy Peterson. “STEM provides just this. It gives intriguing opportunities to see how things work and relate to real-life.”
Pre-K 3
Arlington ISD also has a great pre-K program for three-year-olds. It’s half day and free if you qualify. If you don’t qualify, there’s a tuition-based option that is very affordable.
Registration is open now
Registration for pre-K and kindergarten opened today. You can start the process online here or visit the school your child will attend. Learn more at aisd.net/prek and feel free to contact the pre-K team at (682) 867-9418 or prekquestions@aisd.net with any of your questions.
And check out this post with lots of important dates and details about pre-K registration.