Program Overview
Economic studies show that investing in early childhood education delivers high returns and directly influences economic, health, and social outcomes later in life.
Our bold initiative is developing a more productive workforce, healthier and more engaged families, less poverty, and civic-minded young adults to take San Antonio into the future.
THROUGH OUR FIRST 8 YEARS, PRE-K 4 SA IMPACTED
452,161 FOUR-YEAR-OLDS.
Third party evaluators have confirmed that Pre-K 4 SA is more than a preschool. A visionary initiative and citywide movement for the future of San Antonio, it began and is supported by business leaders, city officials, and a Board of Directors who believe that access to high-quality pre-kindergarten education can make a positive change in one generation.
Through the program’s first eight years, Pre-K 4 SA has provided a high-quality early education model that empowers our children at a critical age for school and life success, provides training and resources to early education teachers throughout our city, and supports other prekindergarten programs across San Antonio.
This bold initiative is developing a more productive workforce, healthier and more engaged families, less poverty, and civic-minded young adults to take San Antonio into the future.
Keeping Our Promises
Nurture responsible citizens for San Antonio
Become a national leader in childhood education
Build a sustainable workforce for the future
Elevate education and family prosperity
Use funds to maximize impact citywide
We Serve San Antonio
Delivering Results
Pre-K 4 SA is proud to be leading a mission and vision to develop a world-class workforce through high-quality early childhood education for all children in San Antonio—in one generation. With collected efforts by educators, school districts, supporting partners, taxpayers and, of course, our students and families, Pre-K 4 SA is driving progress toward a shared vision for a thriving San Antonio.
Education Centers
Setting the Standards
EDUCATION CENTER STUDENTS LONG-TERM IMPACT:
BETTER 3RD GRADE MATH SCORES exceeding the state average score by 16.9 percentage points.
BETTER 3RD GRADE READING SCORES increasing the share of economically disadvantaged students who met or exceeded the state average score by 12.3 percentage points.
BETTER ATTENDANCE resulting in 7 weeks more instruction.
Competitive Grants
Expanding Access & Quality
WITHIN THE FIRST 8 YEARS, PRE-K 4 SA HAS:
$21M
IN GRANTS AWARDED
13K
CHILDREN SUPPORTED
52*
INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
198*
SCHOOLS IMPACTED
*2016–2021
Professional Learning
Developing Teachers
EACH YEAR, PRE-K 4 SA PROVIDES:
10K
hours of free, best-in-class professional learning to
2K
early childhood educators throughout San Antonio.
Pre-K 4 SA is a recognized, TEA Authorized Provider of HB3 Reading Academies
Family Engagement
Strengthening Families
ACADEMICS
78.9%
of parents taught letters, words, and numbers
HEALTH
72.4%
of parents played games, sports or exercised with kids
RELATIONSHIP
69.1%
of parents told stories
Maximizing the Investment
Creating the Greatest Positive Impact and Strong ROI
$3,790
RETURN PER CHILD
$15,800
ADDITIONAL INCOME AND BENEFITS FOR EXTENDED-DAY FAMILIES
$7,360,000
RETURN FOR THE COMMUNITY
Efficient Operations
Pre-K 4 SA*
Annual Cost/Student
$11,470
Length of Program Day
10 hrs
Cost/Hr****
$6.48
Head Start*
Annual Cost/Student
$9,173
Length of Program Day
7 hrs
Cost/Hr****
$7.40
District Avg. (SA Area)**
Annual Cost/Student
$9,109
Length of Program Day
7 & 10 hrs (mix)
Cost/Hr****
$6.24(avg)
National Avg. K-12***
Annual Cost/Student
$12,903
Length of Program Day
7 hrs
Cost/Hr****
$10.41
Source(s):
*City of San Antonio Head Start Report to City Council B Session 2018
** 2017–18 Texas Academic Performance Report (TAPR)
*** National Center for Education Statistics – January 2018
**** Based on 177 day school year
Independent Evaluators
Pre-K 4 SA’s methodology provides a level of instructional quality that has long-term impact on student achievement. Using external and widely recognized assessments and standards, Pre-K 4 SA is able to analyze data on student progress and instructional quality. Research shows that children who learn through Pre-K 4 SA continue to reap education benefits from the program, for years after prekindergarten.
Teaching Strategies GOLD® measures growth and learning in key domains, including cognitive skills, language, social-emotional development, approaches to learning, health and physical development.
Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) is used to evaluate the instructional quality across our program. It’s a standardized, objective measure of instructional quality in early learning. CLASS measures the quality of instruction across three areas: emotional support, classroom organization, and instructional support. Researchers have identified an association between CLASS scores and long-term academic outcomes for children.
NIEER Standards measures 15 Essential Elements for High-Quality Preschool.
Governing Board and City Council appointed city leaders and members that provide fiscal oversight, annual performance audits and assessments to maximize the opportunity for high-quality education to San Antonio’s youngest learners.
Six-Year External Evaluation for growth in all six GOLD® outcomes
Looking Forward to a Bright Future
by Increasing Quality & Expanding Access
Pre-K 4 SA will continue to increase quality and expand access to serve more of San Antonio’s youngest learners
PRE-K 4 SA EDUCATION CENTERS
Demonstration Sites
Innovation Hubs
Family Cafés
1,500
Children Eligible
500
Middle Class Families
SCHOOL DISTRICTS
Professional Learning
Grants Program
Pre-K 4 SA Replication sites
13,000
Children Eligible
2,500
Middle Class Families
CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTERS
Professional Learning
Grants Program
Pre-K 4 SA Replication Sites
5,500
Children Eligible
HOME BASED
Professional Learning
Online Resource Center
Specialized Workshops
Virtual Classroom Option
2,000
Children Eligible
PRE-K 4 SA IS BRINGING HIGH-QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION TO
ALL 25,000 4-YEAR-OLDS
IN SAN ANTONIO
Reauthorization allows Pre-K 4 SA to serve even more of San Antonio’s young children
In November 2012, citizens of San Antonio said “YES” to investing in four-year-olds and to the collection of a 1/8 cent sales tax to fund Pre-K 4 SA.
Reauthorized in November 2020, Pre-K 4 SA will continue to serve 2,000 children in Pre-K 4 SA Education Centers and expand to serve an additional 3,000 middle-class families earning up to $65,000 a year.