Early Learning Public-Private Partnerships

What are Public-Private Prekindergarten Partnerships?

Public-private prekindergarten partnerships are collaborations between local education agencies (LEAs) such as school districts or open-enrollment charter schools, and private child care or Head Start programs. LEAs, and private child care or Head Start programs, may establish formal or informal partnerships based on enrollment and development activities. The partnerships are developed to reflect the needs of children and families, local resources available, and community trends.

Public-private prekindergarten partnerships are encouraged because of the collaborative opportunities and benefits they foster, and are required by Texas Education Code 29.1533 in some situations. Providers must also meet solicitation, eligibility, and enrollment requirements required by TEC §29.171. 

House Bill 2 Updates and Pre-K Partnership Intermediaries  

Pre-K Pass-through Funding

HB 2 requires that a partnership between a school district or charter school and a private prekindergarten provider must provide that at least 85% of funds are passed to the private prekindergarten provider as updated in TEC, §29.153(i) from the 89th Legislative Session. 

The Pre-K Pass-through Funding Requirements from HB 2 document linked here includes this statutory information as well as what constitutes 85% of funding, TEA's approach to supporting and monitoring this requirement and waiver information, which is included below. 

Waiver Information:

• School systems may apply for a waiver using this link: Pre-K Partnership Pass-Through Waiver. Waiver applications must be submitted by August 31, 2026. Waivers may be approved for School Year 2025-2026, School Year 2026-2027, or both.
• TEA will engage in rulemaking to clarify expectations for pass-through rates and Pre-K Partnership agreement expectations. The Agency expects these rules to be in effect in summer 2027.
• Additional details on rules, intermediaries, and available supports will be released in a To The Administrator Addressed (TAA) letter in early fall 2026.

Pre-K Partnership Intermediaries

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) seeks to designate at least 4 Pre-K Partnership Intermediaries to expand prekindergarten partnerships between School Systems and Pre-K Providers across Texas. The Texas Legislature created House Bill 2, and the bill was signed into law in 2025. House Bill 2 made amendments to TEC §29.153, where the Commissioner is to name at least 4 Pre-K Intermediaries to support prekindergarten partnerships, and these Intermediaries will also make determinations for school systems to expand their prekindergarten or offer tuition-based programming. 

The named Intermediaries will be listed on an approved vendor list and will be responsible for the following core functions:

• Recruit High-Quality Pre-K Providers and Match with school systems
• Support Contracts, Financial Modeling, and Agreement Negotiations
• Ensure Pre-K Quality 
• Provide Operational Support
• Make Determinations

Resources for prospective Intermediary Applicants:

• Pre-K Partnership Intermediary Application
• Pre-K Partnership Intermediary Overview Webinar
• Intermediary Application Office Hours FAQ

Support and Services

Partnership Resources

Partnership Process provides resources on how school systems, child care programs, and Head Start programs establish a partnership.

Charter School Considerations

An open enrollment charter school that would like to develop a prekindergarten partnership with a high-quality child care program or Head Start program must follow the same provisions as school districts, with the following additional requirements:

• The charter school must be in good standing with TEA.
• The charter school must be authorized to serve the age levels served in the prekindergarten program.
• The charter school must be authorized to serve children on the site of the prekindergarten partnership   program.
• The charter school must be authorized to serve children from the residential areas of the children enrolled at the prekindergarten partnership program.
• Enrollment of children in the partnership program combined with the charter school’s student enrollment may not exceed the charter school’s maximum enrollment.

Meeting these requirements may involve the application for one or more expansion amendments with the Charter Schools Division of TEA, as prescribed in Texas Administrative Code §100.1035. Charter schools must receive approval for expansion amendments before receiving funding for prekindergarten partnership programs. The expansion amendment application and approval process may require several months, which may extend the implementation timeline for starting a prekindergarten partnership program. Please contact
CharterSchools@tea.texas.gov for questions about the charter school expansion amendment process.

Child Care Partnership Support

TEA partners with the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) Pre-K Partnerships Department to support prekindergarten partnerships. Eligible child care programs working with the TWC Pre-K Partnerships Department can apply for a one-time award of up to $25,000 for each new partnership classroom. The award will help child care programs with some of the costs of the new pre-k partnership classroom. 

The money is not intended to replace the contributions from the school.The child care program and local education agency must be working with the TWC Pre-K Partnership Team during the partnership process. To learn more about this work and available support, visit TWC Pre-K Partnerships or email prekpartnerships@twc.texas.gov.

Head Start Partnership Resources

The National Center on Early Childhood Development, Teaching, and Learning has developed many great resources for partnerships between Head Start and child care programs, with some that can be modified for use in partnerships with LEAs.

• Partnership Relationship Resources
• Planning Guide and Organizational Readiness Chart 
• Partnership Checklist 
• Partnership Elements Worksheet