McAllen ISD is set to welcome all 4-year-old children to Pre-Kindergarten next year. Pre-Kinder is the way to establish a foundation to a child’s education and now all children can participate at no cost.

In the past, certain criteria applied for students to qualify for Pre-Kinder or parents had to pay tuition, but now, the program is free to all children who meet the age requirement.

“Our world-class Pre-Kinder program is now open and free to all four-year-old children,” McAllen ISD Superintendent René Gutiérrez said. “Families no longer have to meet eligibility criteria to enroll in our Pre-K. This is big news and we are excited to welcome the class of 2038 this fall.”

In a unanimous decision, the board of trustees voted to make the change to the program at a meeting on Jan. 22. Children who turn 4 on or before Sept. 1 are eligible.

Research across the nation shows that effective Pre-Kindergarten programs help students start Kindergarten with the skills they need to succeed by boosting early literacy and academic achievement.

Currently, McAllen ISD has nearly 1,250 students in its Pre-Kinder program across 18 elementary campuses.