The Texas Education Agency has announced a partnership with the Texas Workforce Commission for a new planning and implementation grant to expand quality pre-K programming in school districts across the state. School districts and charter schools can apply for a portion of the $7.8 million available through the Prekindergarten Partnership Grant, which will be disbursed after recipients are announced in December, according to TEA officials. Additionally, highly rated Texas Rising Star child care providers will be eligible to partner with their local districts and charter schools to provide pre-K education to 3- and 4-year-olds. By forming relationships with private child care providers, school systems will have an additional avenue to supply early childhood education to more Texas children. “This collaboration between TEA and TWC will help expand access to quality prekindergarten programs, strengthening the future of Texas public education and workforce development,” Commissioner of Education Mike Morath said in a Sept. 21 news release. TWC Chairman Andres Alcantar said the partnership reflects a strong commitment to increase the enrollment capacity for early learning environments. “These public-private partnerships between ISDs and 4-star Texas Rising Star providers will generate new school readiness and alignment opportunities for Texas early learners,” Alcantar said. Over time, officials with TWC have increased quality standards for its TRS program, a system that rates subsidized child care programming. TWC has made more financial and staff resources available in hopes that more child care providers will obtain TRS certification. During the 2015-16 school year, San Marcos CISD had 384 pre-K students enrolled, and Hays CISD had 481. An earlier state pre-K grant was established in 2015 by House Bill 4, passed by the 84th Texas Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott. Through that grant, HCISD received $364,862, and SMCISD received $265,022. Pre-K is a priority for both districts, officials said. “There’s research out right now that states if our students aren’t reading on-level by third grade, they will [most likely] not be successful at state assessment tests and will have a difficult time going forward in school,” said Patty Santoyo, HCISD early childhood program administrator. The important progress made during pre-K can affect a child’s academic career for years after, said Nicole Dray, SMCISD director of elementary curriculum and federal programs. “Pre-K is the foundation of everything that we do,” she said. Resources for parents and private providers can be found at the TWC website.