The City of Austin is partnering with the Austin Independent School District to assist with increasing parent awareness and bolstering enrollment in Pre-K classes for qualified children.

The City will share Pre-K information at a variety of City facilities including public libraries, Women, Infants and Children (WIC) sites, neighborhood centers and recreation centers. 

City professional staff such as librarians and health professionals will use a one-to-one approach in sharing the Pre-K enrollment information with families of young children.

In August 2014, the Austin City Council passed a resolution for the City to partner with AISD on a coordinated communication effort to assist with getting information out about available Pre-K classes in Austin.

Since August, AISD has done a focused community outreach to Austin families about Pre-K classes. School representatives have gone door to door to more than 4,000 households in the district, attended dozens of community events, and set up at grocery stores sharing this information with families.

Approximately 4,500 children are enrolled in AISD Pre-K classes at 84 campuses. Parents can enroll at their neighborhood school. 

“We’d like young families to know that today is a good day to enroll your child in Pre-K,” said Jacqui Porter, AISD Director of Early Childhood. “It’s a great opportunity and a free resource to many families of the Austin area.”

The Pre-K program offers children hands-on, purposeful opportunities for learning and will build a firm foundation for educational success.

Pre-K is available to all children who are 4 years old by Sept. 1, 2014. Enrollment is available now for those children who qualify under one of these criteria:

• Meet certain income requirements.
• Speak a language other than English as their main language.
• Have an active military parent.
• Have a military parent who has been injured or killed in active duty.
• Homeless.
• Served by Child Protective Services.

For more information, contact the AISD Early Childhood Department at (512) 414-4790 or visit www.austinisd.org.

Press release by The City of Austin