During the week of April 4, nine school districts and 100 + organizations are encouraging parents to enroll their children in pre-k or quality early learning programs. In Dallas County, there are approximately 34,000 eligible 3 and 4-year olds that are not enrolled in public pre-k and 43 percent of incoming kindergartens in 2015 did not meet academic readiness standards.
Data in the Annual Community Achievement Scorecard compiled by The Commit! Partnership indicates that children who go to pre-k are more prepared for early academic success, graduate from high school and are prepared for college and postsecondary job opportunities.
“Research tells us that 90 percent of brain development occurs in the first five years of life,” said Mayor Mike Rawlings. “We have to take action to provide quality learning opportunities for all Dallas County children, and Pre-K registration is one of these important steps.”
This year’s campaign to enroll more students in pre-k has nearly doubled its outreach efforts to include four additional school districts. The Commit! Partnership’s goal is to enroll at least 14,500 more early learners.
Organizations supporting the efforts include Children’s Medical Center, Parkland Health & Hospital System, North Texas Food Bank, Healing Hands Ministry and several local churches, libraries and community recreations centers.
To learn about the campaign to increase pre-k registration in Dallas County or to find more information on how to enroll your 3 or 4-year old, please visit www.commit2dallas.org/prek2016.
