Can my daughter start pre-k?

Question

I live in texas and i order to start pre-k you must be poverty stricken or not speak the english language. i was wondering if there was anyway i could pay for her to go. i make too much money for her to go for free but not enough to pay 150.00 a week for daycare. Please help.

Answer 1

My children have always gone to private Pre-K, as it is the same here, to go to public Pre-k you have to qualify due to income or disability (although they do have a lottery for any open spaces). The private pre-Ks are usually affiliated with a church (although they remain fairly non-religious in their curriculum. They only thing they do is say a prayer before snack time). They usually run about $125-$150 per month for 2 or 3 half days.

The YMCA here also has a pre-school program and they will adjust fees on a sliding scale based on income.

Also, around here, most high schools have a pre-K program that is a lab school for their child development classes. It isn't free, but it only costs about $100 per 1/2 year. Most colleges have one as well for the same reason.

I also know some moms that started a preschool co-op. There were about 8 kids, and they met 2 times a week for 2 1/2 hours, and there were 2 moms "teaching" each week, so that you only had to teach once every-other week.

Check out these links:
http://www.preksmarties.com/preschooldirectory/tx.htm

http://www.privatebug.org/preschool-Texas.html



Good Luck

Answer 2

Right on mommy!.. I mean i'm a mom and i would be worried too. her riding the bus on her own Maybe you should find out how many stops the bus will make before reaching the school. And if waay older kids will be on it. Or if that in fact the bus takes the Younger kids in one bus all together., My son is 4 years and he is starting Pre K in 2 days, so yeah i know the feeling were worry warts!.. I would be worried if someone wasn't worried like us you know? Well they now have those Kids Pull ups that can be totaly Confidential just in case cases,As for her not making it on time i believe they have the Bathroom in the classes or not far just for this reason. Are you excited other wise all the worry? Just know that the Teacher's do have assistance at all times. I'm not realy sure how it all works but this is what preschool had not Pre K preschool they are different where the Pre K the bus is optional and preschool home based you go to class once a week Maybe if your realy worried still you could enroll Hayley, It gets them use to the others and use to eating playing etc. Good luck sweety i hope i helped some.

Answer 3

I found a website for Texas Education Agency. I would check with them and see what they have to offer you. I do know there are some agencies that do help with the cost of Daycare or preschool. In Alabama it was called CMA which stood for
Childcare Management Agency. I don't know if you need her in and all day program or if you have someone that could pick her up from like a half day program. A lot of churches have some great preschool programs most are half days but there are some that offer early drop off and late pick up. They also off different programs like 3,4,5 days. The one that I worked at we offered a 5 day program for $125.00 a month but it was just half day. we used the Abeka curriculum which is a very structured program.

Good luck on your search.
I posted the Texas Education website for you below

Answer 4

Find out if the city where you live offers preschool classes in a community center. I live in California and where I live they offer preschool classes for about $250 for three months.
The only reason why my son qualified for headstart/preschool is because he is in speech therapy, but has been on the waiting list for more than a year. They are not supposed to take our income into account because he has a disability but I was told that if another child enrolled with a disability and their parents made less than us the other child would get first priority even though my son has been on the waiting list for so long.
I do think they need to change our educational system. It makes me mad that other people our taking advantage of our system and the ones that have a right and are working hard don't get a chance.

Answer 5

I would apply anyway. If daycare of $150.00 per week is expensive for you, you might qualify. The "poverty stricken" limits in some areas are a lot higher than you might think. I think where I live it is under $42,000 per year for a single parent family.

Answer 6

There are many programs out there that work on a sliding fee scale. Also Head Start is primaily for low income BUT its not always the case, if there is room then they will accept your child. Income is not always a determining factor as long as there is room. Check into HeadStart and see if they have available space. If they do then I bet they will take your child. HeadStart works off of numbers , they need a certain amount of kids enrolled in the program. If they don't have those numbers then they face losing grants, etc... So income is not the deciding factor.

Answer 7

When we lived in texas we had our child evaluated for special needs. He did have some special needs that we were stuggleing with. He was eligble for the program because of that.

The free programs are set up to help children in less fortunate situations to succeed.

If you make to much money that states you do not qualify for free care- there is not much you can do to get state help.

I know many single parents will apply to schools for free pre-k and can qualify because of that status.

I work in a child care center and the cost they are charging you for chlid care is outragious. You might want to look into a different program or area.

Answer 8

I just asked my sister, she's got kids. She said in the county in Fl where I live, all kids can go to pre-K for free. But there are limited spaces at practicpating pre-k places . she said they were private, public, and in the public school system too.
It doesnt matter how much you make, but it is first come first serve (as long as your kid isn't going to daycare that has a pre-K system so you can work already)

Sorry, I'm not good at writing out explanations. but she said to check with your state or education board.

Answer 9

all states also participate in the headstart program...and although most spaces are for those families who fall below the poverty level there are still plenty of spaces for any other child who would like to participate....also most states also participate in the federally funded block grant preschool program and the state funds a similar program.

you have to take some time and follow the application process to participate in the above programs and be willing to follow the other process once in the programs..(some require you to do some in class or take home participation from the parents or parental figures) and some may also ask that you be willing to allow your child to be studied or be taken to varying appointments(doctor, dentist, etc) but all are good and are often sponsored by other community organizations and often there are a variety of other programs that are in almost all communities....a parent has to be willing to do some of the work to find the proper placement for their child...not just complain and whine that an oppourtunity doesnt jump in their face....

start with the local school district office(or even the local school in your neighborhood) and ask which programs they offer ....and check with the local phone book under education, school, or even in the general section of business under headstart....and let your childs education continue

Answer 10

Look for a child care subsidy program. You may be able to qualify to get a precentage of it paid for through the subsidy. California has many programs for this. I'm sure Texas does as well.