Cypress Edition | March 2025

Education

BY RYAN REYNOLDS

Tuition-based pre-K program coming soon Cy-Fair ISD is launching a tuition-based pre-K program in the 2025-26 school year. “We will provide the same high-quality cur- riculum that we currently provide to our pre-K students for our tuition-based students as well,” CFISD Chief Academic Ocer Tonya Goree said during a Jan. 13 board work session. The specics The program will be o ered at all CFISD elemen- tary campuses for children who do not meet the state’s qualied no-cost pre-K eligibility require- ments, which include English language learners and economically disadvantaged students, among other factors, according to the Texas Education Agency. CFISD Chief of Sta Teresa Hull said during the board work session that the tuition-based pre-K program could help the school district as it contin- ues to see a decline in elementary enrollment.

Teachers could earn performance raises Cy-Fair ISD is ocially a Teacher Incentive Allotment district, Superintendent Doug Killian said at a Feb. 10 board meeting. Established by the state in 2019, this pro- gram includes three levels of e ectiveness. The district receives $3,000-$32,000 from the state for each designated teacher. Digging deeper CFISD ocials said the TEA recom- mended 1,075 teachers for designation. Designated teachers will receive allotments annually for ve years beginning in June. The TEA determines campus allotments, which are updated annually in April. “We know we’re going to continue to get more teachers designated, and it’s just going to ... make this profession even more benecial,” Killian said.

Pre-K’s impact A 2019 study found pre-K programs increase students’ readiness for kindergarten and that full-day pre-K programs can improve high school graduation rates and college attendance.

58% of eligible children who attend public pre-K programs are kindergarten-ready 42% of children who do not attend are considered kindergarten-ready

SOURCE: TEXANS CARE FOR CHILDRENCOMMUNITY IMPACT

The tuition-based pre-K program is for children who are 4 years old on or before Sept. 1. If a stu- dent’s home campus is full, the district will assign them to a campus with available space. In addition to a nonrefundable $50 registration fee, tuition is: • $650 per month for community members • $600 per month for CFISD employees

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