Early Childhood

To participate in CISD’s Prekindergarten Program, a child must be 4 years old on or before September 1 of the current school year AND meet one of the following criteria:

• Limited English Proficiency: the child is unable to speak or comprehend the English Language
• Educationally Disadvantaged: the child would be eligible to participate in the National Free and Reduced Lunch Program (based on family’s gross income)
• Homeless: the child is homeless
• Child of an active duty of the Armed Services of the United States
• Child of a member of the Armed Services who was injured or killed while on active duty
• Child has been under the conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services following an adversary hearing.
• Is the child of a person eligible for the Star of Texas Award as:
  • • a peace officer under Section 3106.002, Government Code;
    • a firefighter under Section 3106.003, Government Code;
    • an emergency medical first responder under Section 3106.004, Government Code

The following documents are required to register for Prekindergarten:

Note: See below for additional documents you may need based on how your child qualifies for Prekindergarten.

• Birth certificate
• Proof of residence (current utility bill with parent/guardian’s name and address)
• Social Security card of the child
• Current immunization records

Students who qualify because they are educationally disadvantaged must have income documentation on file.

Acceptable documentation for earnings (wages and salary) include:

• Current paycheck stub
• Current pay envelope
• Letter from employer stating gross wages paid and how often they are paid
• Unemployment, Worker’s Compensation, or Disability payment stub

Acceptable documentation for self-employment income includes:

• Business or farming documents, such as ledger books or self-issued paycheck stub
• Last year’s tax return (Self-employment)

Acceptable documentation for cash income is a letter from the employer stating wages paid and frequency.

Students who qualify because they are the child of an active duty, injured, or killed member of the armed forces of the United States, including the state military forces or a reserved component of the armed forces must have the following documentation on file:

• Documentation that a district employee verified the student’s US Department of Defense (DoD) photo identification for children of active duty service members. The documentation must include the printed name and signature of the person who verified the identification and the date of verification. If the student has not been issued such an ID, then documentation must be on file that a district employee verified the military member’s DoD photo identification (or other DoD-issued documentation indicating that the person is an active-duty member of the military) and verified documentation showing that the student is a child of the military member. The documentation to be kept on file must include the printed name and signature of the person who verified the DoD and other documentation and the date that it was verified, as well as a photocopy of the documentation showing that the student is a child of the military member.
• Important: Your district should not make a copy of DoD identification.
• A statement of service from the installation adjutant general director of human resources for children of active members, mobilized reservists, or members of the Texas National Guard. This office would use the military personnel systems and documentation to verify that the service member is in fact on active duty in Texas or a Texas mobilized reservist. For Texas National Guard members (army or air guard), the Texas National Guard’s Office of the Adjutant General may provide documentation or an official letter from a commander (at or above the lieutenant colonel or, for the navy, at the commander level) confirming active or mobilized status, which is acceptable documentation.
• A copy of the death certificate using the service-appropriate DoD form, or a DoD form that indicates death as the reason for the separation from service, for children of service members who died or were killed. If the DoD form is not available, the family would ask the casualty assistance office of the closest casualty area command (in Texas) to provide a memorandum signed by the casualty office stating that the service member was killed in action or died while serving.
• A copy of Purple Heart orders or citation for children of service members or mobilized reservists or guardsmen wounded or injured in combat.
• A copy of the line of duty determination documentation for children of service members or mobilized reservists or guardsmen who were injured while serving active duty but were not wounded or injured in combat.
• If this documentation is not available, a copy of an official letter from a commander (at or above the lieutenant colonel or, for the navy, at the commander level) that states that the service member was wounded or injured while on active duty is acceptable. A copy of a letter from the US Department of Veterans Affairs indicating that the service member is eligible for disability compensation is also acceptable.
• Documentation that a service member is MIA for children of service members who are MIA.

DFPS will mail a verification letter of prekindergarten eligibility to the parent or caregiver of students who qualify because they are, or ever have been, in the conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services following an adversary hearing, as provided by Section 262.201, Family Code.

Districts must accept the DFPS letter as proof of eligibility to enroll these children in free prekindergarten. For assistance in obtaining a letter, please contact the DFPS Education Specialist in your area for assistance or for a description of other forms of proof of eligibility.

The office of the Governor, Criminal Justice Division honors recipients annually in September. The resolution (certificate) awarded to an individual serves as proof of eligibility to enroll these children in free prekindergarten if they are age-eligible. A list of past honorees may be viewed on the Criminal Justice Division-Past Honorees webpagepdf. If an individual has a prekindergarten-aged child and has been nominated, but not notified as an honoree prior to the current school year, an individual may make a request to the Office of Early Childhood Education to make an eligibility determination based on the nomination submitted for review to the Criminal Justice Division.

Where Does Your Child Attend PreKpdf

If you are unsure of your neighborhood school, please click the link below:

Where Do I Go To School?

2019-2020 CISD PreK Family Engagement Planpdf

EC-PSA_Prekindergarten_FV-19pdf

EC PLF 2022-2023pdf