Eligibility

A child is eligible for free prekindergarten if they are four years old on or before September 1 of the current school year and meets one of the seven criteria listed below. A district may offer (but is not required to offer) a three-year-old program to eligible children, and the same criteria would apply. Age is always calculated as of September 1, of the current school year (for purposes of establishing eligibility). Therefore, a child is eligible for enrollment in prekindergarten if at least four years of age and:

• unable to speak and 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, meaning the student lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence (42 USC, §11434a)
   
• 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
   
• 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