The Texas Education Agency is partnering with the Texas Workforce Commission on a new planning and implementation grant for 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, which will be disbursed after recipients are announced in December, according to TEA officials. Additionally, highly rated Texas Rising Star childcare providers will be eligible to partner with their local districts and charter schools to provide pre-K to 3- and 4-year-olds. This will give school systems an avenue to provide 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 news release. Over time, officials with TWC have increased quality standards for its TRS program, a system that rates subsidized childcare programming. They have made more financial and staff resources available in hopes that more childcare providers will obtain TRS certification. 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,” he said. Cy-Fair ISD received more than $2 million in state funding from House Bill 4, which passed in 2015. A majority of those funds have been dedicated to training efforts and staff development, said Linda Macias, CFISD’s associate superintendent of curriculum, instruction and accountability. CFISD has more than 2,000 4-year-old students who benefit from the pre-K program across 48 campuses, Macias said. Thirty-five of those campuses have bilingual programming. The half-day pre-K schedule offers morning and afternoon sections. “No matter where they come from, we want kids to enjoy learning and have the foundation to love school at an early age,” Macias said. Resources for parents and private providers can be found at www.twc.state.tx.us/partners/child-care-providers-resources.