What are Public-Private Prekindergarten Partnerships?
Public-private prekindergarten partnerships are collaborations between local education agencies (LEAs) such as school districts or open-enrollment charter schools, and private child care or Head Start programs. LEAs, and private child care or Head Start programs, may establish formal or informal partnerships based on enrollment and development activities. The partnerships are developed to reflect the needs of children and families, local resources available, and community trends.
Public-private prekindergarten partnerships are encouraged because of the collaborative opportunities and benefits they foster, and are required by Texas Education Code 29.1533 in some situations. Providers must also meet solicitation, eligibility, and enrollment requirements required by TEC §29.171.
Funding Partnerships
Public-private prekindergarten partnerships can blend multiple sources of funding for care, education, and comprehensive services to children and families, such as:
- Full-day prekindergarten with enhanced services and extended hours
- Year-round, full-day prekindergarten with enhanced services and/or extended hours
- Potential funding options for partnerships between LEAs and child care programs
LEAs in partnerships can utilize Foundation School Program (FSP) funding, early education allotment funding, or other funding sources to provide a full-day of instruction and/or make improvement efforts to meet the high-quality prekindergarten components. Child care programs should check with their local workforce development board to determine which childcare subsidy rate they are eligible to receive based on the number of program hours funded.
The following resource link is for stakeholders seeking additional information regarding financial considerations for prekindergarten partnerships. Through our collaboration with the Texas Workforce Commission and Texas A&M University, stakeholders can view three previously recorded webinars regarding funding streams, using a financial template, and additional considerations for financial modeling for prekindergarten partnerships. Additionally, a financial forecasting template is available for use.
Support and Services
Partnership Resources
Partnership Process provides resources on how school systems, child care programs, and Head Start programs establish a partnership.
Charter School Considerations
An open enrollment charter school that would like to develop a prekindergarten partnership with a high-quality child care program or Head Start program must follow the same provisions as school districts, with the following additional requirements:
- The charter school must be in good standing with TEA.
- The charter school must be authorized to serve the age levels served in the prekindergarten program.
- The charter school must be authorized to serve children on the site of the prekindergarten partnership program.
- The charter school must be authorized to serve children from the residential areas of the children enrolled at the prekindergarten partnership program.
- Enrollment of children in the partnership program combined with the charter school’s student enrollment may not exceed the charter school’s maximum enrollment.
Meeting these requirements may involve the application for one or more expansion amendments with the Charter Schools Division of TEA, as prescribed in Texas Administrative Code §100.1035. Charter schools must receive approval for expansion amendments before receiving funding for prekindergarten partnership programs. The expansion amendment application and approval process may require several months, which may extend the implementation timeline for starting a prekindergarten partnership program. Please contact
CharterSchools@tea.texas.gov for questions about the charter school expansion amendment process.
Child Care Partnership Support
TEA partners with the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) Pre-K Partnerships Department to support prekindergarten partnerships. Eligible child care programs working with the TWC Pre-K Partnerships Department can apply for a one-time award of up to $25,000 for each new partnership classroom. The award will help child care programs with some of the costs of the new pre-k partnership classroom.
The money is not intended to replace the contributions from the school.The child care program and local education agency must be working with the TWC Pre-K Partnership Team during the partnership process. To learn more about this work and available support, visit TWC Pre-K Partnerships or email prekpartnerships@twc.texas.gov.
Head Start Partnership Resources
The National Center on Early Childhood Development, Teaching, and Learning has developed many great resources for partnerships between Head Start and child care programs, with some that can be modified for use in partnerships with LEAs.