To be eligible for enrollment in a free prekindergarten class, a child must be at least three years of age on or before September 1 of the current school year (if a 3-year-old program is available) or four years of age on or before September 1 of the current school year and meet at least one of the following eligibility requirements:

• unable to speak or comprehend the English language
• is educationally disadvantaged (eligible to participate in the national school lunch program... guidelines about NSLP eligibility can be found in sections 4 and 6 of the Texas Department of Agriculture’s Administrators Reference Manual)
• is homeless, as defined by 42 USC, §11434a, 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
• is the 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
• 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
• is or has ever been in the conservatorship of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (foster care) following an adversary hearing held as provided by Family Code §262.201, or has been in foster care in another state or territory, but currently lives in Texas
• is the child of a person eligible for the Star of Texas Award as:
  • a peace officer under Texas Government Code §3106.002
  • a firefighter under Texas Government Code §3106.003
  • an emergency medical first responder under Texas Government Code §3106.004
• is the child of a person employed as a classroom teacher at a public primary or secondary school in the school district that offers a prekindergarten class under this section.

Eligibility applies to three-year-olds when a three-year-old program is available.

PK Eligibility Documentation: A district must verify a student’s eligibility for pre-k to receive funding for the pre-k program. Districts must have the verification document and any required documentation on file for their records.

• Birth Certificate
• Social Security Card (optional)
• Proof of Address (Utility Bill, Lease or Home Closing Papers)
• Immunization Record
• Proof of Income (Pay Stubs, SNAP Eligibility or TANF Benefits Letter)
• Identification of parent or guardian
• Military Orders* (if applicable)
• Foster Care Letter** (if applicable)

*Military Dependents Must Also Have the Following: Department of Defense photo identification or Statement of Service letter from the AG or Human Resources if active reservist or member of the Texas National Guard

**Families With Children in Foster Care Must Also Have the Following: Documentation from the Texas Department of Family and Protective Resources

United ISD offers an early childhood program aligned with the following statutory TEA requirements.

• HQPK Curriculum:
  • Frog Street Preschool Bilingual by Frog Street Press Learning Company for PK3 (TXPKG 6 Domains)
  • Three Cheers for Pre-K/ Uno, dos, tres Pre-Kinder by SAVVAS Learning Company for PK4 (TXPKG 10 Domains)
  • Our United ISD PK curriculum is aligned to the 2022 Texas Prekindergarten 3 & 4 Guidelines, the Kindergarten Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills, and the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes.
• HQPK Progress Monitoring:
  • CLI Engage Circle Progress Monitoring Assessment - Is found on The Commissioner's List of Approved Prekindergarten Progress Monitoring Instruments. 
  • In order for our teachers to provide a high-quality education to our youngest students, it is imperative that we evaluate to acquire data, use the data to establish individualized instruction, and work collaboratively with parents and the community to ensure continuous student success.
    • United ISD assesses our PK3 & PK4 students with the CLI Engage Circle Progress Monitoring Assessment three times per year: BOY - Wave 1, MOY - Wave 2, and EOY - Wave 3.
    • United ISD provides teacher & parent surveys to ensure support and program improvement.
    • United ISD shares student data with families after each administration and provides individualized home activities through the CLI Engage: Circle Activity Collection: Family.
• HQPK Teacher Qualifications:
  • United ISD's PK3 & PK4 teachers have the qualifications needed to effectively support the developmental growth and achievement of Texas’s youngest learners.  Our United ISD-certified PK teachers are provided daily support and high-quality professional development that aims to support their additional qualifications needed to ensure student achievement.
• HQPK Class Size & Student-Teacher Ratio:
  • Teacher/student ratios are a key quality indicator in our United ISD early childhood education program. 
  •  PK3: United ISD enrolls no more than 17 students in a Prekindergarten 3 class.   Student/teacher ratio for PK3 is 17:2.
  • PK4:  United ISD enrolls no more than 22 students in a Prekindergarten 4 class.   Student/teacher ratio for PK4 is 22:2.
• HQPK Family Engagement:
  • United ISD strongly believes in establishing a collaborative partnership with the families of the students we serve. As a result, we have established a United ISD Prekindergarten Family Engagement Plan, which includes an informational Family Tool Kit. Our Family Engagement Plan is found on our website.
• HQPK Program Evaluation: United ISD PK Program Self-Assessment
  • A high-quality component encompasses an ongoing process to improve student outcomes. United ISD involves PK stakeholders in the TEA reflection and evaluation process that identifies areas of strength along with opportunities for growth as a means of continuous PK program improvement.

United ISD has established a partnership with Webb County Head Start. Our PK3 & PK4 Programs work collaboratively with the Webb County Head Start personnel to ensure student success. TheWebb County Head Start Program is a comprehensive child development and early education program that helps children become better prepared to succeed in school and in life by addressing the needs of the whole child. In addition to providing a research-based academic curriculum, Head Start also provides an array of comprehensive services, including health and mental health screenings and services, nutrition, dental and vision services, and extensive parental involvement and early childhood development.

A full-day instructional program for kindergarten is conducted in each elementary school. The program is designed to promote academic skills, which provide a firm foundation for later school success. Kindergarten classes follow the required Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills. The TEKS identify the skills and concepts that 5-year-olds are expected to know and able to demonstrate by the completion of the kindergarten year.

Documentation:

• Birth Certificate
• Social Security Card (optional)
• Proof of Address (Utility Bill, Lease or Home Closing Papers)
• Immunization Record
• Proof of Income (Pay Stubs, SNAP Eligibility or TANF Benefits Letter)
• Identification of parent or guardian

Making the transition to a new learning setting can have an impact on both children and their families. We support families and help them feel secure about their move to a new setting.

Let's Visit An Elementary School! We can take a closer look at a Prekindergarten classroom and get familiar with the different facilities in an Elementary School.

Sing & Learn About School Simply click on the links below and enjoy!

• First Day of School Song by Bright Little Ones
• Anna at school - Stories for kids by Smile and Learn English
• School Vocabulary 1 - Vocabulary for Kids by Smile and Learn English

Canta y Aprende Sobre la Escuela ¡Simplemente haga clic en los enlaces y disfrute!

• LAS REGLAS. Programa de virtudes COBU by NET Oficial
• Cuento mi primer dia de clases. by Little ones growing for the future
• CUENTOS PARA NINOS: MI PRIMER DIA DE CLASES by CALCTILADIA y más

• naeyc 8x. Ready, Set, Return: Helping Children Readjust after Winter Break by: Megan King
• Rocking and Rolling: Difficult Goodbyes Supporting Toddlers Who Are Coping with Separation Anxiety
  • Transitioning from Kindergarten to First Grade: It’s Not Always Easy

• TEA: Supporting Early Childhood Transitions Quick Reference Guide
  • They may transition from home to a preschool program, from a preschool program to kindergarten, and from classroom to classroom each year in elementary school. 12 pages
• Head Start/ECLKC: Early Childhood Transitions: Supporting Children and Families
  • Examples of Transitions in Early Childhood Settings: Home to Infant/Toddler Care or Preschool, Infant/Toddler Care to Preschool, Classroom Transitions within Early Childhood Programs, Preschool to Kindergarten, & Kindergarten to Elementary School

• naeyc: Routines and Transitions
• Webb County Head Start