PreK Programs Offered

Round Rock ISD aims to provide 3 and 4 year old students (and their families) a comprehensive and cohesive play-based, early childhood program focused on developing oral language and social emotional skills.

Review our Pre-K programs |  Plan de Participación Familiar de Prekínder

Pre-K feeder pattern (English) | Pre-K feeder pattern (Spanish)

Pre-K for 3 year olds partnership with United Way of Williamson County

Eligibility is based on criteria established by the Texas Education Agency (TEA).

Learn more about Pre-K for 3 year olds partnership with United Way of Williamson County

Early Childhood Special Education Services (ECSE)

The Early Childhood Special Education Services (ECSE) program provides special education services to eligible 3, 4, and 5 year old children

Learn more about ECSE

Documents required for registration:

• Birth certificate
• Immunizations record or exemption affidavit  
• Proof of income [two most recent pay stubs]
• Proof of residence in the school district [such as, lease agreement, if renting, contract of sale or a tax statement, if purchasing or current utility bill indicated the address and adult’s name].
• If you are an in- or out-of-district transfer, please review our transfer webpage.
• Social Security card, if available

Eligibility and tuition based Pre-K for 4 year olds (Pre-K4)

• For children who are four years old on or before September 1, live in the District, and meet at least one of the eligibility criteria established by the Texas Education Agency (TEA)
• Classrooms are staffed by a certified teacher and an educational assistant that implement our PreK curriculum and attend on-going professional learning with the Early Childhood department.
• The Round Rock ISD Prekindergarten Curriculum is based on the Texas Education Agency’s Prekindergarten Guidelines and the Aligned Round Rock Curriculum.
• Areas included are: Oral language, alphabet recognition, and phonological awareness (awareness of language sounds) are emphasized in prekindergarten. Children learn to interact with others and monitor their own behavior. Expressing themselves through words, art, and music is also part of the curriculum. Children develop observation and thinking skills through math, science, and social studies. Computers are introduced as tools for learning.
• Prekindergarten can be one of a child’s most exciting years in school. Four-year-olds are naturally curious and eager to learn. Students in prekindergarten leave the Round Rock ISD program with the skills they need to be successful in kindergarten and establish a love for learning.
  • State of Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines
  • Prekindergarten Report Cards
• Round Rock ISD Early Childhood Education proudly offers limited tuition-based Pre-K for 4 year old spots at many of our campuses. TEA requires us to serve all eligible Pre-K4 students that enroll throughout the year, so tuition-based spots are not available at every campus that serves Pre-K.
• Enrolling families that do not meet any eligibility criteria will be on a waitlist for tuition-based Pre-K4 spots.
• The Early Childhood Department will maintain a waitlist of interested families throughout the year based on the timestamp of Pre-K4 application submission. Campus capacity and attendance zones will be considered when making placement decisions.

Pre-K for 3 year olds (Pre-K3)

• Round Rock ISD Early Childhood Education proudly offers full-day instruction for 3-year-old students at nine top-rated District campuses, Berkman Arts Integration Academy, Gattis, Pond Springs, Joe Lee Johnson, Laurel Mountain, Caraway, Old Town, Fern Bluff, and Redbud elementary schools. Dual language Pre-K3 students will be served at Berkman and Joe Lee Johnson. Classrooms are staffed by a certified teacher and an educational assistant that implement our Pre-K curriculum and attend on-going professional learning with the Early Childhood department. Children learn through developmentally appropriate activities and play. A literacy-rich environment and positive interactions with peers and adults facilitate language enrichment, social skills, emotional intelligence, self-help skills, pre-reading skills, and cognitive skills. Our Pre-K3 program utilizes a variety of research-based curricula adopted through Round Rock ISD. Pre-K3 classes implement the District curriculum that is written and aligned to the state-adopted prekindergarten guidelines.
• Class size is limited to 20 students, with one Pre-K3 classroom per participating campus. Pre-K3 programs are for children three years old on or before September 1 who reside within District boundaries. The monthly tuition fee for students who meet at least one criteria for entry established by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) is $342. The full monthly tuition fee of $684 is charged for students who do not meet TEA criteria. The annual tuition cost per student is payable annually, by semester, or by ten monthly payments through our eStore portal. Round Rock ISD is required to confirm eligibility before charging the full-rate tuition.
• The Early Childhood Department will maintain a waitlist of interested families throughout the year based on the timestamp of Pre-K3 application submission. Transportation is not provided for our Pre-K3 students and after school care is limited for an additional fee.

Pre-K for 3 year olds Partnership with United Way of Williamson County

• Round Rock ISD is proud to partner with United Way of Greater Austin to offer high-quality early childhood instruction at local Child Care Centers that are 3 and 4 star Texas Rising Star certified. Through this partnership child care centers will receive funding to support additional resources to help improve and sustain quality services for children, additional professional learning opportunities, and improve teacher recruitment efforts. Students, as part of this partnership, will co-enroll at both in Round Rock ISD and the center.
• To be eligible for enrollment in a prekindergarten class, a child must be at least three years of age on or before September 1 of the current school year, and meet at least one of the criteria established by the Texas Education Agency (TEA). Complete the Pre-K3 United Way Formal Partner Interest Survey to get started.
• Proof of income is required when enrolling a student in PreK3. Tuition-rate for Pre-K3 will be based on gross household income. You may qualify for subsidized child care based on household income. Apply for subsidized child care through Workforce Solutions.

United Way Partner Schools & Child Care Facilities:

• Shoreline Learning Center
  Monday through Friday 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  Pre-K3 partnership program is 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. following the Round Rock ISD calendar, but full day care is provided before and after from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Round Rock ISD holidays when we are open. Please check with the center on their inclement weather policy.
  Tuition: $710 monthly (or Child Care Services parent fee)
  Registration fee: $200
• Small World Preschool
  Monday through Friday 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.* Please confirm with the center their operating days, before or after hour care, and inclement weather policy.
  Tuition: $550 monthly (or Child Care Services parent fee)
  Registration fee: $150
  School Supply fee: $60
  *an additional fee of $50 will be charged for full day care per day based on availability.
• Emerson Academy
  Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  Tuition 3 years $1,128 without child care subsidy. If enrolled in the Pre-K3 program, $564 for before and after Pre-K care. Registration Fee: $150
• Hilltop Children’s Center
  Monday through Friday 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  Half day is $700 (+ optional $45 for meals) and full day is $1005 (+ optional $65 for meals).
  Facility does not participate in the State Food Program plan.
  One time $150 registration fee. $90 annual supply fee.

Pre-K Eligibility Criteria

Foster Care

Foster care, or out of home care, is the system that a child enters when a child cannot live safely at home and a court of law grants legal custody to the State of Texas.

A child in foster care can be in either the temporary or permanent conservatorship of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. Visit the Round Rock ISD Families in Transition website.

Star of Texas Award

A student is eligible on the basis that his or her parent or guardian is eligible for the Star of Texas Award for peace officers, firefighters, and emergency medical first responders. For the student to be eligible, the parent must have been deemed eligible for the Star of Texas Award between 2004 and the current year of the awards ceremony. The Star of Texas Awards honor all Texas peace officers, firefighters, emergency medical first responders, and federal law enforcement officers who are seriously injured or killed in the line of duty. Private Citizens who were seriously injured or killed while aiding or attempting to aid a peace officer, firefighter, or emergency first responder in the performance of their duties are also eligible to receive a Star of Texas Award.

Homelessness

A student is eligible on the basis of homelessness if our Round Rock ISD Families in Transition (FiT) liaison identifies the student as homeless, 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. 42 USC, §11434a defines “homeless children and youths” as:

• “Individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence (within the meaning of 42 USC, §11302). This includes:
• (i) Children and youths who are sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason; are living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative adequate accommodations; are living in emergency or transitional shelters; are abandoned in hospitals; or are awaiting foster care placement;
• (ii) children and youths who have a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings (within the meaning of 42 USC, §11302);
• (iii) children and youths who are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings; and
• (iv) migratory children

Military

The following definitions apply when determining a student’s Pre-K eligibility based on the membership of a parent in the armed forces: Those who qualify as a member of the armed forces include:

• active duty uniformed members (parents or official guardians) of the U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Coast Guard who have eligible children residing in Texas
• activated or mobilized uniformed members of the Texas National Guard (army or air guard), or activated or mobilized members of the reserve components of the U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Coast Guard who have eligible children residing in Texas
• uniformed service members who are missing in action (MIA) or who are injured or killed while on active dutyDocumentation accepted includes:
  • 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
  • For children of service members who died or were killed, 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
  • A copy of Purple Heart orders or citation for children of service members, mobilized reservists, or guardsmen who were wounded or injured in combat.
  • A copy of the line of duty determination documentation for children of service members, mobilized reservists, or guardsmen who were injured while serving active duty but were not wounded or injured in combat.
  • Documentation that a service member is MIA for children of service members who are MIA.

What PreK program do you qualify for?