Who qualifies
A child at least 3 years old who meets one of eight criteria, including free or reduced-price lunch eligibility, limited English, an active-duty military parent, foster care history, or a parent who teaches in a public school.
Where
Our pre-K page lists every provider in the state finder across the eight-county area, with a filter.
After-care
TEFA doesn't pay for before- or after-school care. Child care assistance through Workforce Solutions Alamo can.
Kindergarten
Kindergarten eligibility isn't tied to the pre-K criteria, so a child can stay at the same school on the full award.
Where the providers are
Northwest San Antonio, around the Medical Center, Leon Valley and UTSA, has the most approved providers. The Northeast (Live Oak, Converse, Universal City and Schertz) is next, followed by Central San Antonio and the West Side near Lackland. Comal, Kendall, Medina and Wilson counties each have a handful.
What makes a provider eligible
The provider has to be licensed child care in good standing and meet one quality marker: Texas Rising Star 3 stars or higher, Texas School Ready, a pre-K partnership with a public school district, or recognized accreditation. If your current preschool isn't in the finder, ask whether it has one of these and has applied.
Military families
A child of an active-duty service member qualifies at any income, so a Joint Base San Antonio family's 3-year-old can be fully funded at an approved provider. See our military families guide for details.
Applying
Pre-K applications go through the same TEFA application as older children, in the same window. Failing the pre-K criteria was the top reason applications were found ineligible in year one, so make sure your application clearly shows which criterion your child meets.
Next step
Take the two-minute funding check. A School Funding Advisor will go through every source your family qualifies for and the dates that apply.