Texas

Overview

During the 2022-2023 school year, Texas preschool enrolled 243,592 children, an increase of 21,168 children. State spending totaled $938,418,031 and an additional $2,400,000 in federal recovery funds supported the program, up $11,039,712 (1%), adjusted for inflation, since last year. State spending per child (including federal recovery dollars) equaled $4,235 in 2022-2023, up $54 from 2021- 2022, adjusted for inflation. Texas met 4 of 10 quality standards benchmarks.

What's New

The Texas Legislature passed House Bill 2729, which clarifies certification and qualifications for pre-K program staff for open-enrollment charter schools, school districts, and entities contracted with schools to operate PreK4 programs. HB 2729 lowers qualification requirements for pre-K teachers in private settings so that no college degree is required, effective with the 2023-2024 school year. Previously all pre-K teachers were required to have at least a BA. The bill sunsets in 2029.

Background

In 1985, Texas began funding half-day prekindergarten for eligible 4-year-olds through the Texas Public School Prekindergarten program. Currently, districts with 15 or more eligible 4-year-olds are required to offer prekindergarten. Districts with 15 or more eligible 3-year-olds can also offer prekindergarten but are not required to do so. The Texas Education Agency (TEA) Early Childhood Education Division oversees the free program in school districts and open-enrollment charter schools, and school districts are permitted to subcontract with nonpublic preschools to serve eligible children. 

Students are eligible to participate in the Texas Public School Prekindergarten program if they meet at least one of the following conditions: qualify for free or reduced-price lunch (185% of FPL), are homeless, are in foster care, have a parent on active military duty or who was injured or killed on active duty, are unable to speak or comprehend English, and/or have a parent eligible for the Star of Texas Award. 

In 2019, Texas used PDG B–5 funding to conduct a statewide 0-5 needs assessment, develop a statewide 0-5 strategic plan, increase parental choice and knowledge, share best practices, and improve overall quality of care. This work was led by the PDG team and the Texas Early Learning Council. Also in 2019, House Bill (HB) 3 was passed by the 86th Texas Legislature and signed into law by Governor Abbott on June 11. HB 3 impacts districts and open-enrollment charter schools serving pre-K through third grade students by addressing early education allotment, full-day high-quality pre-K for eligible 4-year-olds, expanded early education reporting, early learning progress monitoring tools (single kindergarten assessment with one alternative available), and early childhood partnerships. 

The Children’s Learning Institute at the University of Texas-Health Science Center, in partnership with the TEA and Texas Workforce Commission, has developed a comprehensive professional development platform for early childhood educators that is free to all public school teachers, Head Start programs, families, and child care providers.

Texas Public School Prekindergarten

Access

Total state pre-K enrollment	243,592
School districts that offer state program	90%
Income requirement	185% FPL
Minimum hours of operation	32,400 minutes/year; 5 days/week
Operating schedule	School or academic year
Special education enrollment, ages 3 and 4	30,822
Federally funded Head Start enrollment, ages 3 and 4	53,764
State-funded Head Start enrollment, ages 3 and 4	0

Resources

*Pre-K programs may receive additional funds from federal or local sources that are not included in this figure. †Head Start per-child spending includes funding only for 3- and 4-year-olds. ‡K–12 expenditures include capital spending as well as current operating expenditures.