The overview
The ordinance approved by the city council will fund the program from July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026 and includes a personnel complement adopted by the San Antonio Early Childhood Education Municipal Development Corporation Board of Directors on May 21.
Pre-K 4 SA four strategic components:
- Education centers: four model centers serve 2,000 children annually, meeting national standards and functioning as innovation hubs and demonstration sites for early education
- Family engagement: programs and outreach efforts support family economic mobility and student success
- Professional learning and grants: investments in public, private and parochial early learning and care providers to elevate quality citywide
- Venture solutions: development of public-private partnerships to expand the supply of high-quality early learning opportunities
Pre-K 4 SA partnerships include:
- Partnership with Edgewood ISD where Pre-K 4 SA operates the Gardendale Early learning Program, serving 275 children in Pre-K to 2nd grade
- Lead agency with Early Learning Shared Services Alliance of San Antonio, where Pre-K 4 SA coordinates a network of 94 early learning providers, serving more than 4,500 children and families
Pre-K 4 SA is governed by an 11 member board of directors appointed by the mayor and city council. The program is independently funded and does not receive revenue from the city’s general fund, according to city documents.
Budget explained
In November 2012, San Antonians approved a ⅛-cent sales tax to fund the Pre-K 4 SA initiative for an initial eight-year term. Voters reauthorized the initiative in November 2020, extending the sales tax through June 30, 2029.
