DALLAS — Dallas ISD will offer free pre-kindergarten classes to all 3- and 4-year-olds starting next school year, the district announced Thursday.
The decision comes after the school board voted unanimously to implement a universal pre-K program, joining other North Texas districts such as Fort Worth and Arlington.
Previously, free pre-K in Dallas ISD was available only to qualifying families, including military households, low-income families, non-English learners, and children of district employees.
Debbie Ramos, the district’s assistant superintendent for enrollment and early learning, cited data showing that children who attend pre-K perform about 30 percentage points better than those who do not. By third grade, these students are already outperforming peers in reading and math.
Ramos noted that 80-93% of Dallas ISD pre-K students remain in the district when moving into kindergarten, helping stabilize enrollment in recent years. Trustee Ben Mackey called the retention “amazing” and “incredible.”
Dallas Superintendent Stephanie Elizalde said 267 families currently pay tuition ranging from $2,500 for half-day classes to $5,000 for full-day. She explained that free pre-K is possible because the district has enough teachers and available classroom space, making it an effective use of existing resources.
School-board member Dan Micciche welcomed the move, saying, “The more students we can have in pre-K, the better. Our results have shown that. It’s innovative and a good thing to do.”
Dallas ISD will begin accepting pre-K applications for the next school year on April 1.