Prekindergarten

To be eligible for enrollment in a prekindergarten class, a child must be 3 years of age for PreK 3 or 4 years of age for PreK 4 on or before September 1 of the current school year AND be one or more of the following:

• unable to speak and comprehend the English language; or
• eligible to participate in the national free / reduced school meal program based on family income, recipient of benefits from SNAP, TANF, or Medicaid, considered a migrant child, considered a runaway child, or a child who is an eligible participant in Head Start or Early Head Start; or
• 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; or
• 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; or
• 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; or
• 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, or has been in foster care in another state or territory, but currently lives in Texas; or
• the child of a person eligible for the Star of Texas Award under Texas Government Code §3106.002, Texas Government Code §3106.003, or Texas Government Code §3106.004.

What to Bring Flyer: English | What to Bring Flyer: Spanish

Income Qualifiers

One of the following:

• Current paycheck stub
• Current tax return if self-employed
• Current TANF or SNAP eligibility letter or Medicaid card or letter showing child’s name, eligibility dates within six months of applying for PreK, and the child’s EDG number

Language Qualifiers

• Fill out Home Language Survey (provided by school)
• Language test will be administered to the child

Military Qualifiers

• Verification of U.S. Department of Defense photo I.D.
• Statement of service
• Copy of death certificate
• Copy of Purple Heart orders
• Copy of official letter from commander
• Copy of a letter from U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
• Documentation that service member is MIA

Foster Care Qualifiers

• Verification Letter of Prekindergarten Eligibility from Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS)

• Foster care documents stating closure of a case
• Court documents stating “state foster care” involvement
• Adoption paperwork completed by the originating state

Star of Texas Award Qualifiers

• Copy of the resolution (certificate) awarded to parent of child

Homeless Qualifiers

• Fill out Student Residency Questionnaire (provided by school); District homeless education liaison will verify.

PreK registration for 2024–2025 is now open for PreK 4! (PreK 3 for 2024-2025 is closed, unless your child speaks Spanish.)

1. To enroll in PreK please complete the online application. The campus registrar will contact you to confirm your child’s qualification for free PreK.
2. If you need assistance completing the online application or need a paper application, please call or visit your neighborhood elementary school.
3. Children qualifying for PreK as an English learner will be contacted to schedule the English language proficiency exam after you have completed the online application.

Find the Nearest Elementary School

PreK 3 Early Childhood Communities 2024–25

Community Sites in bold with the schools zoned to each site listed underneath

PreK 4 Early Childhood Communities 2024–25

Community Sites in bold with the schools zoned to each site listed underneath
*Bilingual Early Childhood Programs Available Below

Bilingual PreK 4 Early Childhood Communities 2024–25

Community Sites in bold with the schools zoned to each site listed underneath

Full Day PreK 4

7:30 a.m.–2:45 p.m.

Half Day PreK 3

Morning (AM) Session: 7:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. or Afternoon (PM) Session: 11:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m.

Who can attend PreK in Leander ISD?

To be eligible for enrollment in a prekindergarten class, a child must be 3 years of age for PreK 3 or 4 years of age for PreK 4 on or before Sept. 1 of the current school year and be one or more of the following:

1. unable to speak and comprehend the English language; or
2. eligible to participate in the national free / reduced meal program based on family income; or
3. homeless, as defined by 42 U.S.C. Section 1143a, 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; or
4. 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; or
5. 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; or
6. has ever been in the conservatorship of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services following an adversary hearing held as provided by Section 262.201, Family Code; or has been in foster care in another state or territory, but currently lives in Texas; or
7. the child of a person eligible for the Star of Texas Award under Section 3106.002, Section 3106.003, or Section 3106.004, Government Code.

Can non-qualifying children attend PreK? Do you offer tuition-based PreK?

No, Leander ISD is not able to offer tuition PreK. School districts are required to enroll all children who qualify for free PreK 4. Due to an increase in enrollment in free PreK, the district is unable to offer tuition PreK.

Leander ISD offers a free early childhood school readiness program called Parents as Teachers to families who live within the boundaries of the district.

If your child’s first language is Spanish and would attend one of the bilingual campuses (Bagdad, Knowles, Reed, Whitestone), your family also qualifies for Parents as Teachers.

Do you offer PreK for 3-year-olds?

Yes, Leander ISD offers PreK 3 to eligible students who are 3 years of age on or before Sept. 1 of the current school year and meet one of the seven possible eligibility criteria. The PreK 3 program has a limited number of spots; there will be 510 PreK 3 spots for the 2024-25 school year. PreK 3 spots will be placed by random selection, not first-come, first-served. The first random selection process will take place at the end of April 2024. If your child receives a spot from random selection, the school registrar will contact you. If your child does not receive a spot in the random selection, they will join a waitlist.

I have developmental concerns about my child. Can he/she attend PreK?

If your child qualifies for PreK regardless of if you have developmental concerns, your child may attend PreK (see the Eligibility section above). If your child does not qualify for PreK and you have a developmental concern about your child, please call our free developmental screening program, Child Find, at 512-570-0350.

What schools have PreK in Leander ISD?

We offer PreK 4 at 19 elementary schools for 2024–25: Bagdad*, Bush, Camacho*, Cox, Cypress*, Deer Creek*, Faubion*, Giddens*, Grandview Hills*, Hisle*, Larkspur, Knowles*, Naumann*, North, Plain, Pleasant Hill, Reagan*, Tarvin, and Winkley. (*PreK 3 is offered at 11 elementary schools.)

Why doesn’t my home/zoned school offer PreK?

In 2017 Leander ISD created Early Childhood Communities, worlds for 3- and 4-year-olds, to better meet the unique needs of our young learners. In Early Childhood communities, several surrounding schools come to one school for PreK where teachers collaborate in a team to provide engaging and enriching early childhood experiences. After PreK, your child will attend their home campus for kindergarten through 5th grade.

What are the hours for PreK?

PreK 4 is full-day and follows the elementary school day, 7:30 a.m.–2:45 p.m.

PreK 3 is a half day session from either: 7:30 a.m.– 10:30 a.m. or from 11:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m.

Why can’t everyone attend PreK?

The state of Texas funds half-day PreK for qualifying students in all school districts in Texas. School districts can determine whether they are able to provide PreK for non-qualifying students. At this time, Leander ISD is unable to offer tuition PreK.

Can my child ride the bus to PreK?

Transportation is provided for students who qualify for the PreK 4 program and who live outside of the 2-mile radius. Transportation is not provided for PreK 3 students.

Do PreK students eat breakfast and lunch?

Yes, children in PreK 4 have both breakfast and lunch built into their daily schedule. Parents may purchase meals at school or send a meal with their child. PreK 3 morning session students will have breakfast and PreK afternoon session students will have lunch built into their schedules.

Does my child need to be potty-trained to attend PreK?

No, your child does not need to be potty-trained. The teacher will work with each family on an individual basis to help your child become successfully independent at school.

Big Ideas in Prekindergarten

• Clarity in written and spoken language, along with critical listening, demonstrates effective communication.
• Reading a wide variety of genres expands understanding of the world, its people, and oneself.
• Numerical Fluency is the wise and appropriate use of numbers and operations with flexibility, accuracy, and efficiency.
• Communicate using the language of mathematics and mathematical tools to organize their understanding of concepts.
• People develop, learn, and adapt cultures to create who we are and shape our communities.
• Science is a way of knowing and learning about the natural world.

1. Read to and talk with your child each day.
2. Have your child practice writing his/her name, using a capital letter only for the first letter.
3. Have your child count objects around the house.
4. Help your child identify and name the colors.
5. Have your child look for and name letters and numbers everywhere.
6. Have your child color, cut, and glue.
7. Have your child play board and card games.
8. Have your child participate in physical activities outdoors and in imaginative play, like dress up, kitchen, or building with blocks.
9. Help your child develop good toileting skills.
10. Hug your child each day.