Pre-K was the single largest grade in TEFA's first year: 9,449 funded students statewide, more than kindergarten or any other grade. It also has the narrowest eligibility, because a child who misses every pre-K criterion is ineligible however strong the rest of the file is. The list above is the whole test.
Two criteria fit El Paso unusually well. A child who isn't yet proficient in English qualifies, which covers many children in Spanish-speaking homes. And a child with a parent on active duty qualifies at any income, which covers Fort Bliss families who live on the Texas side.
A provider has to be licensed child care in good standing and show one quality marker: a Texas Rising Star rating of 3 stars or higher, Texas School Ready, a pre-K partnership with a public district, or recognized accreditation. The approved El Paso list includes the YWCA's early learning academies, the Flying Colors centers, several Montessori preschools and an inclusive center for young children with Down syndrome.
Kindergarten has no separate criteria. A child funded in pre-K can usually continue at the same school, and a child who didn't qualify for pre-K can apply again for kindergarten.
All 19 TEFA pre-K providers in the area
Combining it with other sources
Few El Paso families rely on a single source. This one normally works alongside the school's own discounts and at least one more item on this list, and the funding check lays out the exact mix for your child.