Seguin ISD has
rolled out a new pre-kindergarten program to offer four-year-olds an educational boost prior to
kindergarten.
The pilot program, dubbed Pre-K for All, will open its doors Jan. 9 at Patlan Elementary School.
“We are excited about this new initiative that will give parents options for their future kindergarteners.
Pre-K for All is a tuition based, full day program that we are offering as an alternative to traditional
day care. Students in Pre-K for All will be immersed in the elementary school culture, taught by a TEA
certified teacher and ultimately be prepared for kindergarten next fall,” said Dr. Matthew Gutierrez,
Seguin ISD superintendent.
He noted that there are differences between the free pre-kindergarten program at Ball Early Childhood
Center and the new one slated for Patlan, with a $500 per month tuition.
“Our pre-kindergarten program at Ball has been a successful, solid foundation for thousands of
students over the years. Under the Ball model, students must meet certain state and/or federal
enrollment requirements for acceptance. The state of Texas will only fund a half day program for these
students. Further, some of these students qualify for an additional half day of pre-k through the
federally funded Head Start program,” he said.
Because Pre-K for All at Patlan is being offered without state or federal enrollment requirements, the
program is open to a wider student base although enrollment is limited.
“A result of creating this program without being tied to state and federal funding is the need to charge
tuition to cover the cost of the program, namely the teacher and other associated costs required to
operate a classroom and provide a learning environment. This will not be a money making venture for
Seguin ISD. Rather, it is an opportunity for those four-year-olds who cannot attend Ball to attend an
equally rigorous, full day program at Patlan that is competitively priced with day care,” he said.
Currently, parents may pre-register for the program by completing an online form at goo.gl/ep54Pc.
The registration date is scheduled for Jan. 7 at Patlan Elementary School, 2501 Breustedt St.
Registration forms may be downloaded at https://bit.ly/2RjYick (opens external link in new window) .