The Tempe City Council launched Tempe PRE as a two-year pilot in August 2017, offering free preschool to improve kindergarten readiness.  Councilmembers later extended the program and introduced a sliding-scale tuition plan to widen availability to families and ensure the program’s financial sustainability.

Tempe PRE also seeks to help families improve their quality of life. With access to high-quality preschool, parents can increase employment and education opportunities. A Tempe PRE survey shows that 40 percent of families were able to increase their income by 28 percent as a direct result of accessing preschool.

Tempe PRE is a high-quality, full-day preschool program open to families who live or work in Tempe. Students must be age three or four by July 31, 2022 and fully potty trained to be eligible for preschool.

Applications for the 2022-23 school year will open March 1st. 

Tempe PRE serves approximately 200 children at 7 neighborhood schools in the Tempe Elementary School District. We fully prepare students for kindergarten success.

Small class sizes

We have a 9:1 student-to-adult ratio; each class has a maximum of 18 students. Our classes are small enough to offer teachers the ability to work with children one-on-one in small groups to benefit learning.

Qualified staff

Our classes are taught by early childhood education-certified teachers. Instructional assistants all have early childhood experience. 

High Scope Curriculum

Our curriculum is aligned to the Arizona Early Learning Standards. We believe that young children learn through play and our curriculum supports exploration, engagement and social skills that help them prepare for kindergarten.

School support

Students have access to elementary school support staff such as nurses and will transition more easily to kindergarten if families choose to remain at the same school.

Results

All 11 Tempe PRE classrooms have attained “quality” ratings in learning environment and nurturing staff-student interactions by Quality First, Arizona’s quality improvement and rating system for early learning programs.

Tempe is proud to be the first city in Arizona to provide city-funded, high-quality preschool with Tempe PRE, a free and low-cost full-day program for three and four-year-old children. In partnership with the Tempe Elementary School District, Tempe PRE offers a 1:9 staff to child ratio and High Scope Curriculum delivered by certified teachers.  

Assistant –Tempe PRE Instruction

Apply here 

Aguilar Elementary School (5800 South Forest Avenue)

• M-Th: 7:50 a.m. to 2:50 p.m. | F: 7:50 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
• Extended hours offered (7 a.m. – 6 p.m.)
• This is not a Spanish Immersion program.

Arredondo Elementary School (1330 East Carson Drive)

• M-Th: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. | F: 9 a.m. – 2:10 p.m.
• Extended hours offered (7 a.m. – 6 p.m.)

Carminati Elementary School (4001 S McAllister Ave)

• M-Th: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. | F: 9:00 a.m. – 2:10 p.m.

Cecil Shamley School (1500 North Scovel Street)

• M-Th: 7:50 a.m. to 2:50 p.m. | F: 7:50 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Getz School (625 East Cornell Drive)

• M-Th: 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. | F: 8:30 a.m. – 1:40 p.m.

• Extended hours offered (7 a.m. – 6 p.m.)

Holdeman Elementary School (1326 W 18th St.)

Thew Elementary School (2130 East Howe Avenue)

• M-Th: 7:50 a.m. to 2:50 p.m. | F: 7:50 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

• Extended hours offered (7 a.m. – 6 p.m.)

Wood Elementary School (727 West Cornell Drive)

• M-Th: 7:50 a.m. to 2:50 p.m. | F: 7:50 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

• Extended hours offered (7 a.m. – 6 p.m.)

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

• A separate application must be completed for each child 
• Children must be 3 or 4 years old by July 31, 2022
• To receive financial assistance, the family must live in Tempe
• Parent/Guardian must provide transportation to and from Tempe PRE locations
• Tempe PRE is a 5 day/week, 7 hour/day program. Full time attendance is required. Partial day options are not available
• Classroom space is limited. 
• Applications will continue to be accepted until all seats are filled. Once all seats are filled, a lottery will be conducted to select from submitted applications
• Entry into the selection/enrollment process is done through the Tempe PRE application
• Families have the ability to indicate preferred school locations based on availability 
• Official documents will be required at registration if your child is selected

REGISTRATION PROCESS:

• Once selected through the selection process, a separate registration packet will need to be submitted within a given time frame
  • Specific registration information will be provided when you are notified

*ALL Tempe resident families seeking financial assistance (free and half tuition) must apply for the DES child care subsidy prior to starting a Tempe PRE application. To apply to DES Childcare assistance HERE

Tempe PRE offers limited spots for before and aftercare at select locations, from 7 a.m – 5:30 p.m.  See our school list above for locations.

We are a year round program, with fall, winter and spring camps and two summer sessions to enrolled Tempe PRE families. For families paying half or full tuition, the cost is included in monthly tuition. For families attending the program free of charge, the cost of camp is $10 per week. These camps will be filled at a first come first served basis. Click here to view our camp guide.

Our program follows school district calendars.

• Tempe Elementary School District (2022-2023 School Calendar)

Tempe PRE programming is not provided for single-day holidays and school closures.

New discoveries for Eli

Every week is an adventure in learning for three-year-old Eli in his preschool classroom. 

One day he’s mastering scissors to hone his fine motor skills. The next, he’s letting his imagination run wild as he paints. Still the next, he’s playing, sharing and making new friends at the “home living” station. In between it all, Eli is embracing new responsibilities like getting his own cot ready for naptime.

The range of new experiences are teaching Eli to follow directions and boosting his confidence. For mom Julie Tufte, the benefits of Tempe PRE are easy to see.

“I have really high expectations and this program has checked every box,” she says.

Kindergarten readiness for Arthur

Tempe PRE is the perfect academic and social jumpstart for four-year-old Arthur.

Enrolled at Scales Technology Academy, his interest in reading has blossomed and he enjoys “teaching” his grandmother to read. He loves showing off the things he learns in the classroom, like properly wash his hands. He has fun singing new songs and making new friends.

Arthur’s parents look forward to hearing all about the day when they pick up their son.

“He loves school. He loves his teacher,” says dad David. “When there is a holiday, he misses school.”

Success for mom Heather and son Rowan

Mom, Heather loves that her four-year-son Rowan is getting everything he needs at Carminati Elementary School to prepare for kindergarten.

But the benefits of the Tempe PRE program stretch well beyond the classroom. Heather meets the income requirements for free preschool and has taken a part-time job that gives her the opportunity to increase her income and still be home in the afternoon with her son.

Tempe PRE allows Heather to focus on work during the day while Rowan focuses on learning and making friends.

“He comes home and says, ‘I need to practice my Ws tonight’,” Heather says. “It’s been great.”

• After submitting my application, how and when will I hear from Tempe PRE?

  Applications will be pulled from the website starting March 15 and then the 15th of every month. Families will be contacted via email after applications are randomized. 

• Can I enroll my child during the year when they turn 3 years old?

  • Children who turn 3 before July 19 can start school at the beginning of the school year.
  • Children who turn 3 between July 20 and August 31 can start school after their birthday if there are still spots available. 

• Do you offer discounts for multiple children?

  No. Each child's tuition must be paid according to the tuition you qualify for.

• I am not a Tempe resident. What are my options for Tempe PRE?

  1. Pay our full tuition rate at $750 monthly.

  2. Receive DES child care assistance and pay the copay to the city of Tempe if any

  3. Apply for a Quality First scholarship and pay the copay. This option will require a denial letter from DES child care assistance.

• I didn’t qualify for DES child care subsidy. Am I eligible for financial assistance

  You still may be eligible for financial assistance through the city of Tempe or Quality First if you meet the requirements. The denial email or letter from DES will be requested prior registration.

• I live in Tempe, and I income-qualify for financial assistance. Do I still need to apply to DES child care assistance?

  Yes. All families seeking financial assistance through the city must apply to DES child care assistance . Once your child is selected in our lottery process, the approval or denial letter will be requested.

• If my child is not called by the beginning of the school year, does it mean that they will not be part of the program?

  We complete most of the registrations prior the first day of school, but we will be enrolling new children every time a child is disenrolled from the program, until January 2024.

• Is Tempe PRE available part-time?
  No. Tempe PRE is a full-day program only, 7 hours a day, 5 days a week.

• Where exactly is my child on the waitlist?
  All the applications will be randomized every time an opening comes up, so all the families have the same chances to be called independently of the order they have applied.

Our staff is available to answer all of your questions. Contact us at pre-k@tempe.gov or480-662-6340

Connect with us on Facebook @TempePRE

Para mas información en Español sobre el preescolar Tempe PRE o solicitar ayuda para diligenciar la aplicación, llamar al 480-662-6340.