A Microsoft Word version of this letter is available for download and PRINTING.

February 6, 2008

To the Administrator Addressed:

Subject: Texas Prekindergarten Program Update

Texas Prekindergarten Expansion Grant
The agency has determined that the eligibility criteria and requirements for the Texas Prekindergarten Expansion Grant will remain unchanged for the 2008-2009 school year. Districts currently receiving funds under this program will again be eligible for continuation grants for the 2008-2009 school year, provided they have and continue to meet all grant requirements, including submission of either a School Readiness Integration (SRI) Plan or an Exemption Request for SRI. The funding formula for the grant program will remain the same as well.

The 2008-2009 Prekindergarten Expansion Grant will proceed as usual with the application being available in late spring/early summer 2008. The request for applications (RFA) process for the new 2009-2010 grant is also currently scheduled for late spring/early summer 2008. District award notification for the 2009-2010 grant is expected to occur in fall 2008.

Program staff is currently drafting rules for the grant program. The rules will become effective in the 2009-2010 school year. The proposed rules are anticipated to be posted in March 2008 and a long comment period will be provided to ensure an extended opportunity for stakeholder input. To make certain you receive notification of the proposed rules release, please take advantage of TEA’s Rules listserv at http://www.tea.state.tx.us/list.

For additional information regarding the Prekindergarten Expansion Grant revisions, please contact Lilie Elizondo-Limas at 512-936-6060 or at lilie.elizondo-limas@tea.state.tx.us.

Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines Revision
The State Center for Early Childhood Development (State Center) will oversee the revision of the current Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines. As a part of that process, the State Center will be conducting public forums across the state to receive input from stakeholders about the Guidelines. The final guidelines will be comprehensive, including Language, Emergent Literacy, Mathematics, Science, and Social/Emotional, and the addition of Art/Music, Social Studies, Health/Safety, Technology, and Physical Development. These forums will be approximately two and one-half hours in length. You are invited to attend any of the forums listed in the attachment. All the forums will provide and solicit the same information, so there is no need to attend multiple forums. Some of the sites have requested registration in order to have the correct number of handouts, but registration is not mandatory and there is no charge to attend.

If you have any questions or need additional information about the forums, please contact Susan Gunnewig at the State Center for Early Childhood Development at susan.gunnewig@uth.tmc.edu.

Sincerely,

Gina S. Day
Deputy Associate Commissioner
State Initiatives

Attachment: Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines Revision Forums

Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines Revision Forums
1:00 PM – 3:30 PM