Star of texas award pre k

Parents of children turning 4 by or on Sept. 1, 2022 and who meet the eligibility criteria listed below have their first opportunity to enroll their students in Prekindergarten for the 2022-2023 school year online, beginning July 5, 2022.

Language testing is by appointment. Language testing will take place the week of July 18-21, 2022.

Our language assessment team will contact families of students (if applicable) to set language assessment appointments.

Once online registration is completed and submitted, the campus registrar will review and determine eligibility.

Program Description

Round Rock ISD offers a prekindergarten program for children who are four years old on or before September 1, live in the district, and meet at least one of the following criteria established by the Texas Education Agency (TEA):

1. is limited in the ability to speak and/or comprehend the English language; or
2. is eligible for free or reduced lunch based on the family’s income; or
3. is homeless, as defined by 42 U.S.C. Section 1143a ; or
4. is the child of an active duty member of the armed forces of the United States, including the state military forces or a reserve component of the armed forces, who is ordered to active duty by proper authority; or
5. is the child of a member of the armed forces of the United States, including the state military forces or a reserve component of the armed forces, who was injured or killed while serving on active duty; or
6. is or has been in the conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services following an adversary hearing held as provided by Section 262.201, Family Code.
7. is the child of a person eligible for the Star of Texas Award as:
   1. a peace officer under Section 3106.002, Government Code;
   2. a firefighter under Section 3106.003, Government Code; or
   3. an emergency medical first responder under Section 3106.004, Government Code.

A child who is eligible for enrollment under item 4 or 5 above remains eligible if the child’s parent leaves the armed forces, or is no longer on active duty, after the child begins prekindergarten.

NOTE: Round Rock ISD does not offer tuition based prekindergarten program. The current program is for students who meet the criteria for entry established by the Texas Education Agency (TEA).

Frequently Asked Questions

What to Bring to Complete Enrollment

Begin by enrolling online. Campus registrars will contact parents or guardians of new students who qualify to request the following items to complete enrollment:

• Birth certificate [To obtain a copy of a birth certificate, see below]
• Immunizations record [immunization requirements]
• Proof of income [two most recent pay stubs]
• Proof of residence in the school district [such as, lease agreement, if renting, contract of sale or a tax statement, if purchasing]
• Current utility bill indicating the address and the adult’s name
• Social Security card, if available

*If you are a family who has experienced a loss of housing or are in an unstable housing situation, you may be eligible to enroll immediately and be given an extension to gather all required documents. Visit our Families in Transition page for further information.

Pre-K Transportation

PM Bus Drop Off

An adult of at least 18 years old must be present at the bus stop to receive a Pre-K student from the bus. Any adult who will be receiving a Pre-K student from the bus should be prepared to provide identification to the driver. If an 18+ adult is not present at the bus stop, the student will be returned to their campus. Buses are not able to return to the stop.

SMART tag

Round Rock ISD implemented the SMART tag student badging system during the 2019-2020 school year. This program ensures that all students are getting on and off the bus at the correct stop and allows campus administrators to see what students are riding the bus, as well as the time and location that students get on and off the bus. 

The SMART tag Parent Portal allows parents to see when and where their student(s) get on and off of the bus, as well as the ability to add and remove additional caregivers who are approved to receive their student from the bus. 

 More information on SMART tag can be found at https://transportation. roundrockisd.org/smart-tag/

 Information on the Round Rock ISD SMART tag Parent Portal can be found at https://parent.smart-tag.net/% 40roundrock

Transportation Eligibility

Transportation services are provided to students who live two or more miles from their campus, per the Round Rock ISD school board policy. Students residing within two miles of their assigned school may be eligible for transportation if their neighborhood qualifies as hazardous under the district’s hazardous transportation rating system. Elementary school bus stops are created with a maximum walk-to-stop distance of 0.25 mi.

 More information regarding Round Rock ISD transportation, including a bus stop locator search tool, can be found at https://transportation. roundrockisd.org

Round Rock ISD PreKindergarten offers:

Our Pre K teachers nurture each child’s unique talents and abilities to ensure they feel encouraged and supported.

Pre K students enjoy creative enrichment like wellness or PE, music, art, technology, and library, known as specials.

Round Rock ISD provides a positive environment for early learners to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

RRISD participates in USDA’s National School Lunch and Breakfast Program. Prekindergarten students may have a free, reduced-price, or paid eligibility status based on a standard eligibility determination. For more information visit The Feed Newsletter.

Prekindergarten Curriculum

The Round Rock ISD Prekindergarten Curriculum is based on the Texas Education Agency’s Prekindergarten Guidelines and the Aligned Round Rock Curriculum.

Areas included are:
Oral language, alphabet recognition, and phonological awareness (awareness of language sounds) are emphasized in prekindergarten. Children learn to interact with others and monitor their own behavior. Expressing themselves through words, art, and music is also part of the curriculum. Children develop observation and thinking skills through math, science, and social studies. Computers are introduced as tools for learning.

Prekindergarten can be one of a child’s most exciting years in school. Four-year-olds are naturally curious and eager to learn. Students in prekindergarten leave the Round Rock ISD program with the skills they need to be successful in kindergarten and establish a love for learning.

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Margo Vogelpohl

Director of Title I and Prekindergarten

Teresa Shanahan

Coordinator, Prekindergarten