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RISD reports expansion to 108 pre‑K classrooms and says attendees outperform peers on early measures
Summary
Coordinating Director Katie Finney told trustees RISD now has 108 pre‑K classrooms across 34 campuses serving nearly 1,900 children, outlined the district's high‑quality coaching model and said early outcome comparisons show RISD pre‑K attendees outperform peers on RLA and math measures.
At the Richardson ISD board meeting, Katie Finney, coordinating director of early childhood services, presented a comprehensive pre‑K program update showing expansion and early outcome evidence.
Finney said the district now has "108 classrooms across 34 of our campuses" serving "just shy of 1,900 children," including newly added pre‑K at several campuses and growth in dual‑language offerings. She described the district's high‑quality framework—coaching, professional development and a connected coaching model that builds capacity at the campus level—and detailed requirements for identifying TEA‑recognized "high quality" pre‑K teachers (a 150‑hour pathway of PD and coaching over five years).
On outcomes, staff presented comparisons showing students who attended RISD pre‑K had higher Kindergarten RLA and math trajectories than peers who did not attend RISD pre‑K. Finney said the district will continue to monitor progress‑monitoring metrics and emphasized parent engagement components, including individualized progress‑monitoring reports sent home three times a year. Trustees asked questions about capacity, tuition slots, lottery processes for limited 3‑year‑old seats and how high‑quality teachers are distributed across campuses. Finney and staff said expansions continue as space allows and noted the district uses lotteries for limited seats and prioritizes qualifying families per TEA rules.
Finney closed by reiterating the district's goal to expand access and to seek full‑day pre‑K funding support from the state. "Pre‑K is the early intervention, both academically and behaviorally," she said.
