TEA awards more than $116 million as part of Gov. Abbott’s high quality pre-K initiative
Written by Post Public Information Representative, Jul 8, 2016, Comments Off
Courtesy UISD,
AUSTIN, TX – Commissioner of Education Mike Morath announced today that 578 school systems across Texas will be awarded more than $116 million in grants as part of Gov. Greg Abbott’s high-quality prekindergarten initiative.
In 2015, Gov. Abbott declared early education a legislative priority. The 84th Texas Legislature went on to pass – and Gov. Abbott signed into law – House Bill 4, which established additional state support for all public school districts and open-enrollment charter schools seeking to expand high-quality prekindergarten programs.
“Implementation of this important grant program, which remains a priority of Gov. Abbott, provides important educational support to our youngest Texans,” said Commissioner Morath. “By working to ensure and expand high quality prekindergarten programs across our state, we take an important step toward ensuring every child is prepared for the classroom from the very first day.”
Following the application period, school systems have been formally notified by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) of the final grant awards. Funding will be used by districts to implement pre-k programs in the 2016-2017 school year.
The high-quality grant program allows districts and charters to receive funding for qualifying prekindergarten students in addition to the half-day Foundation School Program funding that is already received for each eligible prekindergarten student. To receive the grant funding, a district or charter had to meet certain enhanced quality standards related to curriculum, teacher qualifications, academic performance, and family engagement.
House Bill 4 also added new prekindergarten reporting requirements for all public school districts and open-enrollment charter schools. In addition to implementation of the high-quality grant program, the statewide data collection required by House Bill 4 will begin in the 2016-2017 school year.
In United ISD, the grant will cover four full-day pre-kinder programs at Roosevelt, Centeno, Perez, and Veterans Memorial Elementary Schools. Registration for new students will begin August 3, at the following satellite registration sites. Satellite registration sites are available to any student regardless of the school the child is assigned to attend:
Wednesday, August 3, 2016
Hours: 9 A.M. – 5 P.M.
Los Obispos Middle – 4801 S. Ejido Rd.
United South Middle – 3707 Av. Los Presidentes
United Middle School – 700 E. Del Mar Blvd.
Thursday, August 4, 2016
Hours: 9 A.M. – 5 P.M.
Trautmann Middle 6th grade Campus
– 900 E. Del Mar Blvd.
Washington Middle – 10306 Riverbank Dr.
Monday, August 8, 2016
Hours: 9 A.M. – 5 P.M.
Gonzalez Middle – 5208 Santa Claudia Ln.
Lamar Bruni Middle -5910 St. Luke Blvd.
Tuesday, August 9, 2016
Hours: 9 A.M. – 5 P.M.
Clark Middle – 500 Hillside Road (Rear)
Trautmann Middle School – 8501 Curly Ln.
Full day pre-kinder programs at Roosevelt, Centeno, Perez, and Veterans Memorial Elementary Schools will still continue to operate along side Juarez-Lincoln Elementary and Kennedy-Zapata Elementary Schools. Additionally, Cuellar Elementary School will have a full day pre-kinder program this school year as a result of a partnership with United ISD and the Webb County Head Start program.
