The eight ways in
A child who is at least 3 qualifies by meeting one criterion: limited English, free or reduced-price lunch eligibility, homelessness, an active-duty or injured or fallen service-member parent, foster care history, a Star of Texas parent, or a parent who teaches in a Texas public school classroom.
Teachers' children
Central Texas districts employ thousands of classroom teachers. Their 3- and 4-year-olds can be fully funded at an approved private pre-K, with no income test.
Where the providers are
Round Rock, Pflugerville and Hutto have the most approved providers, followed by the Lake Travis side of West Austin, Cedar Park and Leander, and South Austin. Bastrop County and the Dripping Springs area had just one each when we checked. Our pre-K page filters them by community.
After-care
TEFA won't pay for before- or after-school care. Child care scholarships through Workforce Solutions Capital Area in Travis County, or Rural Capital Area in the surrounding counties, can.
Staying through kindergarten
Kindergarten doesn't use the pre-K criteria. Any eligible child can be funded, so a family can stay at the same school from age 5.
If your preschool isn't listed
Ask whether it has Texas Rising Star 3 stars or higher, Texas School Ready, a district pre-K partnership or a recognized accreditation. With one of those and a clean license, it can apply to join at any time.
Next step
Start the short funding check. An advisor will walk you through each source you qualify for and the deadlines that matter for your child.