Pre-Kindergarten Enrollment Information

Pre-Kindergarten Qualification Criteria

To participate in CISD’s Prekindergarten Program, a child must be 4 years old on or before September 1 of the current school year AND meet one of the following criteria:

Limited English Proficiency: the child is unable to speak or comprehend the English Language. This determination is based on results of state mandated testing completed by the English Learner department.
Educationally Disadvantaged: the child would be eligible to participate in the National Free and Reduced Lunch Program (based on family’s gross income)
Homeless: the child is homeless
Child of an active duty of the Armed Services of the United States
Child of a member of the Armed Services who was injured or killed while on active duty
Child has been under the conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services following an adversary hearing.
Is the child of a person eligible for the Star of Texas Award as:
a. a peace officer under Section 3106.002, Government Code;

b. a firefighter under Section 3106.003, Government Code;

c. an emergency medical first responder under Section 3106.004, Government Code

Documents Required For Registration

The following documents are required to register for Prekindergarten:

Note: See below for additional documents you may need based on how your child qualifies for Prekindergarten.

• Birth certificate
• Proof of residence (current utility bill with parent/guardian’s name and address)
• Social Security card of the child
• Identification document of parent/guardian enrolling the student
• Current immunization records

Educationally Disadvantaged Criteria

Students who qualify because they are educationally disadvantaged must have income documentation on file.

Acceptable documentation for earnings (wages and salary) include:

• Current paycheck stubs for recent 30 day period
• Letter from employer stating gross wages paid and how often they are paid
• Unemployment, Worker’s Compensation, or Disability payment stub.

Acceptable documentation for self-employment income includes:

• Business or farming documents, such as bank statements or self-issued paycheck stub

Acceptable documentation for cash income is a letter form the employer stating wages paid and frequency.

Military Criteria

Students who qualify because they are the child of an active duty, injured, or killed member of the armed forces of the United States, including the state military forces or a reserved component of the armed forces must have the following documentation on file:

• Documentation that a district employee verified the student’s US Department of Defense (DoD) photo identification for children of active duty service members. The documentation must include the printed name and signature of the person who verified the identification and the date of verification. If the student has not been issued such an ID, then documentation must be on file that a district employee verified the military member’s DoD photo identification (or other DoD-issued documentation indicating that the person is an active-duty member of the military) and verified documentation showing that the student is a child of the military member. The documentation to be kept on file must include the printed name and signature of the person who verified the DoD and other documentation and the date that it was verified, as well as a photocopy of the documentation showing that the student is a child of the military member.
• Important: The district should not make a copy of DoD identification.
• A statement of service from the installation adjutant general director of human resources for children of active members, mobilized reservists, or members of the Texas National Guard. This office would use the military personnel systems and documentation to verify that the service member is in fact on active duty in Texas or a Texas mobilized reservist. For Texas National Guard members (army or air guard), the Texas National Guard’s Office of the Adjutant General may provide documentation or an official letter from a commander (at or above the lieutenant colonel or, for the navy, at the commander level) confirming active or mobilized status, which is acceptable documentation.
• A copy of the death certificate using the service-appropriate DoD form, or a DoD form that indicates death as the reason for the separation from service, for children of service members who died or were killed. If the DoD form is not available, the family would ask the casualty assistance office of the closest casualty area command (in Texas) to provide a memorandum signed by the casualty office stating that the service member was killed in action or died while serving.
• A copy of Purple Heart orders or citation for children of service members or mobilized reservists or guardsmen wounded or injured in combat.
• A copy of the line of duty determination documentation for children of service members or mobilized reservists or guardsmen who were injured while serving active duty but were not wounded or injured in combat.
• If this documentation is not available, a copy of an official letter from a commander (at or above the lieutenant colonel or, for the navy, at the commander level) that states that the service member was wounded or injured while on active duty is acceptable. A copy of a letter from the US Department of Veterans Affairs indicating that the service member is eligible for disability compensation is also acceptable.
• Documentation that a service member is MIA for children of service members who are MIA.

Department Family and Protective Services Criteria

DFPS will mail a verification letter of prekindergarten eligibility to the parent or caregiver of students who qualify because they are, or ever have been, in the conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services following an adversary hearing, as provided by Section 262.201, Family Code.

Districts must accept the DFPS letter as proof of eligibility to enroll these children in free prekindergarten. For assistance in obtaining a letter, please contact the DFPS Education Specialist in your area for assistance or for a description of other forms of proof of eligibility.

Child of Star of Texas Award Recipient Criteria

The office of the Governor, Criminal Justice Division honors recipients annually in September. The resolution (certificate) awarded to an individual serves as proof of eligibility to enroll these children in free prekindergarten if they are age-eligible. A list of past honorees may be viewed on the Criminal Justice Division-Past Honorees webpage. 

Pre-Kindergarten Campuses

Students in Cleveland ISD attend the school to which they are zoned. 

If you are unsure of your zoned school, please click the link below:

Click here to find your zoned campus

Please visit the New Student Registration page for instructions and links to begin the enrollment process.