Pre-K Q & A
Everything you want to know to prepare for PK in Spring ISD
Dear Parent/Guardian,
Thank you for registering for the Pre-K program in Spring ISD. If you have not received confirmation of enrollment, someone from your home campus will call you before July 31 to notify you if your child qualifies for Pre-K for the 2020-2021 school year.
If your child’s enrollment is pending the language assessment for our bilingual program, you will receive a call to schedule a date and time for this assessment by July 31. The language assessment will be on Aug. 4 and Aug. 6.
If your child qualifies, the first day of school is Aug. 17, 2020. Due to COVID-19, Pre-K will be starting the year remotely like all grade levels. Please know that teachers will work closely with you and your child to become familiar with routines and online procedures while also getting to know your child and making them feel welcome. Teachers will hold lessons, read stories, and interact with students remotely and establish learning routines that will easily transition to the classroom when public health conditions allow.
Below are some common questions families may have about enrolling their child in Pre-K:
Is my child eligible for Pre-K in the fall?
In order to be eligible for pre-k enrollment your child must be 4 on or before September 1, 2020 and must meet one of the eligibility requirements or have been identified with a disability through a special education assessment and are at least 3 years old [See below for eligibility requirements].
My child will be 4 on September 6, 2020. Can I still register him to attend Pre-K?
No, in order to qualify, your child must be 4 on or before September 1 of the current school year unless they have been identified with a disability through a special education assessment and are at least 3 years old.
When is the first day of school for the 2020-2021 school year?
Monday, August 17, 2020
What are the eligibility requirements?
Your child must meet at least one of the following:
- The child is unable to speak and comprehend the English language. A language assessment will be given by the district to determine eligibility. (Parent will be contacted by July 31 by their home campus Registrar to set up a testing appointment for either August 4 or August 6); or
- The child is educationally disadvantaged (which means a student is eligible to participate in the national free or reduced-price lunch program); or
- The child is 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; or
- The child is a child of an active duty member of the armed forces of the United States, including the state military forces or a reserve component of the armed forces, who is ordered to active duty by proper authority; or
- The child is the child of a member of the armed forces of the United States including the state military forces or a reserve component of the armed forces, who was injured or killed while serving on active duty; or
- The child is or ever has been in the conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services (foster care) following an adversary hearing or
- The child is the child of a person eligible for the Star of Texas Award as: a peace officer, a firefighter, or an emergency medical first responder.
What if my son/daughter does not qualify according to the criteria listed above?
The Texas Legislature determines the eligibility criteria for free, public prekindergarten in Texas. One of the criteria must be met in order to enroll.
My child is not potty trained, can he still attend Pre-K?
The student must not be excluded from eligibility. Eligible students are not required to be potty trained; however, the school and the parent must establish written guidelines for managing these situations.
How can I prove my child’s age and identification?
The following documents are considered acceptable.
- original birth certificate
- statement of the child's date of birth issued by the division of the Texas Department of State Health Services responsible for vital statistics for school admission purposes
- passport
- school id card, records, report card
- military id
- hospital birth record
- adoption records
- church baptismal record
What documents show proof of residency?
- lease agreement
- mortgage statement
- current gas, light, or water bill
What documentation is needed to determine if my child is eligible for Pre-K based on income?
- a current paycheck stub
- letter from employer stating gross wages paid and how often they are paid
- unemployment, worker’s compensation or Disability payment stub
- last year’s tax return
What are the steps in registering my son/daughter?
The first step is to go online and complete the online registration process. Second step is to submit the required documents to finalize registration, schools will work with each family to ensure all eligibility requirements are met
Is Pre-K required for all students?
What is the income level for a household to qualify as educationally disadvantaged?
Can I use my SNAP or TANF documents for prekindergarten eligibility?
Yes, a household may submit a complete application that contains the name of the child, a current SNAP or TANF group number and an adult signature. Lone Star Card account numbers are not acceptable SNAP case numbers on the application.
What types of prekindergarten programs does Spring ISD offer?
Upon registration, parents fill out a Home Language Survey to help determine the best placement for the child. The programs that are offered are English, English as a Second Language, Late-exit Bilingual Program, Dual Language Program.
Does Spring ISD offer a prekindergarten program for 3 year olds?
No, Spring ISD only offers prekindergarten for students who are 4 years of age on or before September 1 of the current school year. However, Spring does offer Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE). ECSE is a program for children ages 3-5 who have been identified through a special education assessment with a developmental disability in one or more areas. If you believe your student needs an assessment please contact the Early Childhood Special Education Assessment Center at (281)891-8290 or email Spring ISD Early Childhood Special Education Coordinator Kim Sharp at ksharp@springisd.org
What if the prekindergarten program that my child is zoned to is full?
If your zoned school is full, parents may apply for a transfer to any Spring ISD campus on a space-available transfer. In the case of an approved transfer, transportation will not be provided.
Can I pick the school that I want my child to go to?
No, specific addresses have schools they are zoned to. For more information, go to the Spring ISD website, and under the Attendance Zones, there is an “Infofinder” link that will tell you exactly what school your home address is zoned to and if there is a bus route assigned.
Will my child be attending a full day or half day school?
Full-day. Beginning with the 2020-2021 school year, all schools in Spring ISD will provide full-day instruction for all registered pre-k students, check with your attendance zoned school for start times and end times.
Is half-day Pre-K an option?
No. The district has moved to a full-day program for all students.
I don’t live within the Spring ISD attendance zone, can I still enroll my child in Spring ISD
Out-of-district students may enroll in Spring ISD Pre-K programs as determined by available space. In the case of an approved out-of-district transfer, transportation will not be provided.
Do I have to take my child to school, or will there be bus transportation to and from the school?
Students in pre-k must be registered for bus service before they can begin riding the bus home from school. Once the student has been approved and routed for the bus, the parent/guardian will be notified and services may begin. Each student will be issued a bus rider card to be used to scan when the child gets on and off the bus. Parents or authorized persons will be given a PIN number to identify themselves at the bus stop in order to pick up the child. No child will be released without this PIN number.
What do I do if my child has been identified with a disability?
If your child has had a previous assessment through a school district, please let the registrar know during registration, contact the Early Childhood Special Education Assessment Center at (281)891-8290 or email Spring ISD Early Childhood Special Education Coordinator Kim Sharp at ksharp@springisd.org in order for the Special Education department to ensure that your child receives the appropriate services. If available, provide a copy of the Special Education Individualized Education Plan to the school upon enrollment.
What do I do if I suspect my child has a disability?
If your child qualifies for Pre-K and you suspect a disability, alert the teacher to your concerns to see if further action needs to be taken. If your child does not qualify for Pre-K and you suspect they may have a disability, contact the Early Childhood Special Education Assessment Center at 281-891-8290 or email Spring ISD Early Childhood Special Education Coordinator Kim Sharp at ksharp@springisd.org
Who will notify me if my PK child needs language testing?
Your child’s home campus will call you at the phone number you included in your child’s Pre-K application to schedule an appointment for testing with a specific time.
Where and when is my PK child going to take a language test?
All testing will be conducted Tuesday, August 4, 2020 and Thursday, August 6, 2020 at Dekaney High School. The exact testing time will be assigned by the home campus during their phone call.
Who will inform me if my PK child qualified to participate in a PK or a Language Program?
The home campus will call you within a week of your child’s testing to inform you if your child qualified for PK and if your child qualified for a language program (Bilingual, ESL or Dual Language).
I registered my child but I have not received the survey to select at-home or in-person learning yet?
Once your child has been accepted into the Pre-K program, based on one of the criterias listed above, you will receive the survey to select at-home or in person learning via email. If your student needs a language assessment, the survey will be sent after the assessment determines that your student is eligible for the Pre-K program.
If you have any further questions feel free to call your home campus or email Spring ISD Pre-K coordinator Kerri Davis at Kdavis@springisd.org or Director of Elementary Kelli Anderson at kander2@springisd.org