PreK at Plano ISD

Pre-kindergarten students in Plano ISD are administered the CIRCLE Pre-K Assessment. CIRCLE is a technology driven tool that enables teachers to assess a child’s progress in several skills areas. (literacy, math, social-emotional, and early writing) Results from this assessment allow teachers to create focused lessons that target each student’s area of greatest need. The CIRCLE Progress Monitoring System is aligned with the Head Start Child Development and Early Learning Framework.

The Plano ISD Early Childhood Program is based on the Texas Education Agency’s Pre-kindergarten Guidelines. The guidelines are based on current knowledge of theory and scientific research about how children develop and learn; they reflect the growing consensus among early childhood professional organizations that a greater emphasis be placed on young children’s conceptual learning, acquisition of basic skills, discovery through play, and participation in meaningful, relevant learning experiences. The guidelines describe specific outcomes for prekindergarten children in ten domain skill areas. These domains include; social and emotional development, language and communication, reading, writing, mathematics, science, social studies, fine arts, physical development and technology. To learn more about the prekindergarten guidelines visit the Texas Education Agency’s website .

Families will learn more about the program at:

• Back to School Night in August
• Parent/Teacher Conference in the fall and spring
• Open House in spring
• Three written reports on your student’s progress in fall, winter and spring
• Monthly newsletters are sent home to provide on-going communication between home and school.

Staff

Each school has a principal, office staff, registered nurse, librarian, and counselor. Early Childhood School teachers are degreed and certified to teach young children. The teaching assistants receive ongoing training with teachers in prekindergarten curriculum and effective teaching strategies. Additional support staff is available to provide specialized services in speech therapy, occupational therapy, and physical therapy.

Schools

The Early Childhood Schools serve students residing in the elementary school neighborhoods listed that do not offer the Pre-K program. 

• Isaacs Early Childhood School -  3400 E. Parker Rd. in Plano
  • Hunt, Hickey, McCall, Meadows, Miller, Schell, Stinson
• Beaty Early Childhood School - 1717 Nevada in Plano
  • Aldridge, Barksdale, Brinker, Centennial, Gulledge, Haun, Shepard, Saigling
• Pearson Early Childhood School - 4000 Eagle Pass in Plano
  • Andrews, Bethany, Beverly, Carlisle, Harrington, Hedgcoxe, Rasor, Skaggs, Wells, Wyatt
• Elementary campuses that offer PreK:
• Barron Elementary 
• Boggess Elementary 
• Christie Elementary 
• Daffron Elementary 
• Dooley Elementary 
• Haggar Elementary 
• Hightower Elementary 
• Hughston Elementary 
• Huffman Elementary 
• Jackson Elementary 
• Mathews Elementary 
• Memorial Elementary 
• Mendenhall Elementary 
• Mitchell Elementary
• Sigler Elementary 
• Thomas Elementary 
• Weatherford Elementary

Pre-K Placement

• Every effort will be made to place students at their zoned home campus if it has a Pre-K program or at an Early Childhood School.
• Final school assignments will be determined based on seat availability and program placement. 

Kindergarten

• Students will be assigned to the campus aligned with their attendance zone and/or appropriate programming. 
• Parents or guardians can request a transfer to another school within the district.
• Transfer requests must be submitted during the open transfer window.
• Transfers are only final when the request is approved.

Pre-K Hours

Early Childhood Campuses:

7:55 a.m. - 3:15 p.m.

Elementary Campuses:

7:40 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Find your home campus

Check school finder to discover which school is assigned to your home address.

A Typical Day

Welcome / Arrival:  Children are welcomed and then independently select activities as they arrive in the classroom.

Circle Time: Your child joins with classmates to talk about the day. Students are engaged in writing, language and mathematics instruction.

Work Time: Children choose from activities in the centers, which include dramatic play, table toys, blocks, art, sensory table, library and computers.  Learning is child-centered through play facilitated by the staff.

Clean Up: Your child learns the importance of concluding activities, putting away materials and cooperating with others.

Small Group Instruction: Children receive intentional instruction on targeted objectives in a small group setting. Students are taught language, literacy, and mathematics concepts and skills through a variety of instructional strategies.

Outdoor Learning / Activity Room: Energetic outdoor play provides opportunities for children to develop large muscles, to engage in social interactions, and to experience nature. Children also learn self-management by following rules and safety guidelines.

Music/Movement: Your child will experience music and physical activities in the classroom, the activity room and on the playground. Learning to follow rules and safety guidelines as well as building large motor skills will accompany the fun students enjoy.

Story Time: Teachers read to children in both large and small groups. Reading enhances listening comprehension, stimulates thought-provoking questions and conversation, and develops concepts of print and vocabulary.

Dismissal: Children are encouraged to review the day’s events and independently collect their belongings.

Students who don’t meet eligibility for free Pre-K can enroll in tuition-based Pre-K at select schools.

• Students must reside in the Plano ISD boundaries or have a Plano ISD full-time employee parent/grandparent to be eligible to attend the tuition program.
• The tuition Pre-K program is a limited enrollment program, and enrollment is based on space availability at each site. A waiting list will be available when tuition spots are not available.
• Students must be 4 years old on September 1 of the school year.
• All tuition students attend full-day.

Tuition Rates

Non-Employee Child Tuition

• One-time $100 non-refundable registration fee
• Monthly tuition: $550 per month (prorated as needed)

Plano ISD Full-Time Employee Child/Grandchild Tuition

• One-time $100 non-refundable registration fee
• Monthly tuition: $450 per month (prorated as needed)