Some city and state programs are working to boost that improvement by expanding preschool opportunities for children from low-income families. The mission is even more urgent as parents juggle soaring child care costs and a widening affordability gap. San Antonio’s program, called Pre-K 4 SA, is a prime example.

By comparison, pre-K 4 SA, which began its enrollment Sunday for the 2026-27 school year, typically signs up 2,000 students directly at its four campuses spread across the city.

Kids must be 3 or 4 years old by Sept. 1 to apply.

And mark your calendar: Pre-K 4 SA will host open house events at each education center on Saturday, May 2, giving families the chance to meet teachers, explore classrooms and imagine their child’s first day of school.

Pre-K 4 SA is the city’s premier early childhood education program, offering free full-day pre-kindergarten, meals and snacks, and transportation for every child.

Teaming up with Pre-K 4 SA and Gardendale Early Learning Program in a local school district, the UT San Antonio Adult Digital Literacy through Language Education (ADLLE) Community Lab recently began providing hands-on digital literacy and English as a Second Language (ESL) classes to parents of children enrolled at Gardendale.

Pre-K 4 SA celebrated the grand opening of its new South Education Center, marking a significant expansion in early childhood education for families who live on the South Side.

The City of San Antonio’s preschool program, Pre-K 4 SA, officially opened its new South Education Center Wednesday.

The new facility is currently at full capacity with 360 students across its 16 preschool classes and four toddler and infant rooms.

The center will provide learning for 3 and 4-year-old students as well as the program’s first classrooms for babies and toddlers.