Is Your Child Eligible? Use the Pre-K Eligibility Screener
Austin ISD Pre-K4
Austin ISD Pre-K4 is available for free for children who are eligible. We also offer tuition-based Pre-K for students who don't meet the qualifications for district-supported Pre-K. Not all AISD schools offer Pre-K4, and not all offer tuition-based Pre-K4. Locations are listed on this page.
pre-k4 ELIGIBILITY process
Step 1: Eligibility
Are you eligible for district-supported (Free) Pre-K4?
- Use the Pre-K Eligibility Screener to determine eligibility.
- Not eligible for district-supported Pre-K? Register for tuition-based Pre-K4.
Step 2: Review
The Early Childhood staff will review submitted screener and request supporting documents:
- Proof of Income: Most recent pay stub or unemployment statement, worker's compensation, disability payment, or no income statement
- SNAP, TANF, or Medicaid Benefits: Most recent proof of benefits to include effective dates, case number, and child's name
- Military Service: Statement of Service, Letter from Veterans Affairs stating eligibility for disability or Letter from Commanding Officer. Do NOT upload copies of Department of Defense identification
- Foster Care: DFPS Verification Letter of PreK Eligibility or other documentation of foster care.
- Star of Texas Award: Certificate or Letter from Governor or state representative
Step 3: Documentation
Families will scan or take a picture of requested documents and upload them to a Pre-K Eligibility Documentation Request Google form.
Step 4: Verify
Early Childhood staff will verify PreK eligibility and notify families.
Step 5: Campus Registration
Families will complete registration paperwork online or with the campus.
Pre-K4 Curriculum at AISD
Austin ISD follows the Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines and uses Scholastic's research-based Big Day for Pre-K curriculum for all our Pre-K students.
The Scholastic Big Day curriculum helps Pre-K students achieve positive outcomes through learning experiences that are engaging and relevant to their lives. It features exploration and discovery as a way of learning, and supports the district objective to teach the whole child with a focus on social and emotional learning.
Pre-K students receive instruction in core competencies including literacy, mathematics, social studies, science, technology, health, visual arts, music and physical education. Emphasis is also placed on problem-solving, interest and joy in learning, self-expression and divergent thinking, personal responsibility, self-control and feelings of security and success.
Sample Schedule
Morning
- 7:30-8 a.m., Arrival and Oral language development
- Breakfast in the classroom, Welcome Ritual, Arrival Procedures
- 8-8:15 a.m., Circle Time; Language Arts
- Read aloud, shared reading, write aloud and shared writing
- 8:15–9:15 a.m., Centers/Small Groups
- Children work in free-choice centers. Teachers work with children in small groups.
- 9:15–9:30 a.m., Circle Time; Mathematics
- Children learn basic math concepts in whole group with a more focused lesson conducted in small groups. Teachers reinforce math skills in centers and throughout the day.
- 9:30–10:30 a.m., Centers/Small Groups
- Children learn basic math concepts in whole group with a more focused lesson conducted in small groups. Teachers reinforce math skills in centers and throughout the day.
- 10:30–11 a.m., Lunch
- 11–11:30 a.m., Outside P.E. or music movement
- Children participate in unstructured and free-choice outdoor play. Sand, water, musical instruments, and other materials/activities are provided
Mid-Morning to Early Afternoon
- 11:30 a.m.–12:15 p.m., Rest/Quiet Reading or Other Quiet Activity
- 12:15 a.m.–12:30 p.m., Circle Time; Science
- Children participate in hands-on activities that are inquiry based.
- 12:30–1:30 p.m., Center time
- Children work in free-choice centers. Teachers work with small groups.
- 1:30–2 p.m., Recess
- 2–2:15 p.m., Circle Time; Review the Day
- 2:15–2:23 p.m., Dismissal
Locations
full-day Pre-K4 (tuition-based)
- Allison
- Baldwin
- Barrington
- Bear Creek
- Becker
- Blackshear
- Blanton
- Boone
- Brentwood*
- Campbell
- Casey
- Casis
- Cook
- Cowan
- Cunningham
- Davis
- Dawson
- Doss
- Galindo
- Govalle
- Graham
- Guerrero Thompson
- Gullett
- Kiker
- Harris
- Hill
- Jordan
- Joslin
- Kocurek
- Maplewood*
- Mathews
- McBee
- Menchaca
- Mills
- Norman
- Odom
- Ortega
- Overton
- Palm
- Patton
- Pecan Springs
- Perez
- Pillow
- Pleasant Hill
- Reilly
- Ridgetop
- St. Elmo
- Summitt
- Sunset Valley
- Travis Heights
- Uphaus Early Childhood Center*
- Walnut Creek
- Williams
- Winn Montessori
- Wooten
- Zavala
- Zilker*
*Pre-K students at the following schools are served at partner campuses:
- Baranoff (served at Menchaca)
- Barton Hills (served at Zilker)
- Blazier (served at Uphaus Early Childhood Center)
- Bryker Woods (served at Brentwood)
- Clayton (served at Kiker)
- Highland Park (served at Brentwood)
- Lee (served at Maplewood)
- Linder (served at Uphaus Early Childhood Center)
full-day Pre-K4 (district-supported)
- Allison
- Andrews
- Baldwin
- Barrington
- Bear Creek
- Becker
- Blackshear
- Blanton
- Boone
- Brentwood*
- Brown
- Campbell
- Casey
- Casis
- Cook
- Cowan
- Cunningham
- Davis
- Dawson
- Doss
- Galindo
- Govalle
- Graham
- Guerrero Thompson
- Gullett
- Harris
- Hart
- Hill
- Houston
- Jordan
- Joslin
- Kiker*
- Kocurek
- Langford
- Maplewood*
- Mathews
- McBee
- Menchaca*
- Metz
- Mills
- Norman-Sims
- Oak Hill
- Oak Springs
- Odom
- Ortega
- Overton
- Padron
- Palm
- Patton
- Pecan Springs
- Perez
- Pickle
- Pillow
- Pleasant Hill
- Reilly
- Ridgetop
- Rodriguez
- Sanchez
- St. Elmo
- Summitt
- Sunset Valley
- Travis Heights
- Uphaus Early Childhood Center*
- Walnut Creek
- Widen
- Williams
- Winn
- Wooldridge
- Wooten
- Zavala
- Zilker*
*Pre-K students at the following schools are served at partner campuses:
- Baranoff (served at Menchaca)
- Barton Hills (served at Zilker)
- Blazier (served at Uphaus Early Childhood Center)
- Bryker Woods (served at Brentwood)
- Clayton (served at Kiker)
- Highland Park (served at Brentwood)
- Lee (served at Maplewood)
- Linder (served at Uphaus Early Childhood Center)