Limited English counts
A child who isn't yet proficient in English meets one of the state's free pre-K criteria. In a city where many children grow up speaking Spanish first, that opens the full $10,474 award at an approved provider without an income test.
The other criteria
Eligibility for free or reduced-price lunch, homelessness, current or former foster care, a parent on active duty or injured or killed on active duty, a parent who received the Star of Texas award, or a parent who teaches in a public school classroom.
Approved providers
The El Paso list includes the YWCA's early learning academies in University Heights, Transmountain and Valle Verde, the Flying Colors centers, Montessori preschools in the Upper Valley and on the East Side, and Every Little Blessing, an inclusive preschool for children with Down syndrome and other needs.
Pair it with Child Care Services
TEFA pays for the pre-K program but not for before- or after-school hours. Workforce Solutions Borderplex's Child Care Services can subsidize that extra care for working and student parents who qualify.
Why ratings matter
A center qualifies for TEFA pre-K with a Texas Rising Star rating of 3 stars or more, Texas School Ready, a public pre-K partnership or recognized accreditation. If your preschool isn't in the finder yet, ask whether it has one of these and has applied.
Kindergarten next
Kindergarten eligibility doesn't depend on the pre-K criteria, so a child can stay at a school that runs through the elementary grades. Make sure your application shows clearly which pre-K criterion your child meets; a pre-K applicant who meets none is ineligible.
Next step
The funding check takes about two minutes. Afterward an advisor reviews every source that applies to your family, from TEFA to diocesan aid and Child Care Services, along with the deadlines that matter.