Media Advisory - North Texas Pre-K Enrollment Week April 3 - 8, 2017

School districts across North Texas are giving students a head start on education with the launch of early Pre-K Enrollment Week April 3 – 8, 2017. In Dallas County today, 34,000 eligible 3- and 4-year-olds are not enrolled in public Pre-K or Head Start. Last year 9 districts participated and over 140 partners; this year 13 districts are participating and working together to raise awareness.

To qualify for free public Pre-K, a child must be at least 3 or 4 years of age (depending on the district) and meet one of the following qualifications: 1) Economically disadvantaged (eligible to participate in the National School Lunch Program), 2) Unable to speak and understand the English language, Homeless, 3) A child of a member of the United States armed forces (active, deceased or injured), 4) Has ever been in state foster care. 

PARTICIPATING SCHOOL DISTRICTS:
Arlington ISD
Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD
Cedar Hill ISD
Coppell ISD
Dallas ISD
DeSoto ISD
Duncanville ISD
Fort Worth ISD
Grand Prairie ISD
Irving ISD
Lancaster ISD
Mesquite ISD
Richardson ISD

Commit Partners available for interviews: 

Kimberly Manns - Director of Early Education Initiatives, Commit

Taylor Toynes - Community Impact Associate, Commit
 

The Commit! Partnership - In early 2012, our community came together to collectively address the most urgent challenge facing our region and its future: the education of our children. Commit! was formed that same year to act as a backbone organization supporting an unprecedented coalition of stakeholders agreeing to work together to benefit students throughout Dallas County, from cradle to career. Currently comprised of over 190 organizations, the Commit! Partnership includes numerous public school districts, charter school networks, private schools, higher ed institutions, foundations, businesses, and nonprofits.