Petition to Lubbock-Cooper ISD: Request for Tuition-Based Public Preschool Option

  To the Lubbock-Cooper Independent School District Board and Administration, 

We, the undersigned parents, guardians, and concerned community members. Respectfully urge Lubbock-Cooper ISD to implement a tuition-based public preschool program.

Currently, LCISD offers preschool options only to children who meet specific eligibility criteria. Such as income level, language status, or other qualifying needs. While we strongly support these vital services for “at-risk” children. This system excludes many families who do not meet eligibility guidelines, but still seek quality early childhood education within our public school system.

Our Concerns:

1: Lack of Choice and Equity: Families whose children do not qualify for free preschool have no access to a district preschool, leaving them with limited or costly private alternatives.

2: Division in the System: This divide creates inequality in early education, often based not on need, but on technical eligibility.

3:Missed Opportunities: Many children are ready and eager to learn in a structured environment. Offering a tuition-based option would allow more students to benefit from early learning, better preparing them for kindergarten and beyond.
Our Request:

We respectfully request that Lubbock-Cooper ISD:

1: Create a tuition-based public preschool option for children who are not currently eligible under existing state or district programs.

2: Ensure fair and transparent enrollment processes, including options for both qualifying and tuition-paying families.

3: Engage the community in planning, including feedback sessions with parents and educators to help shape the program.

Many Texas school districts, including comparable and neighboring communities, have successfully implemented tuition-based public preschool models. These programs not only support school readiness but also foster stronger community involvement and help build a more inclusive early education system.

We love our district and the quality education it provides. Please give all our children, regardless of eligibility, the opportunity to grow, learn, and thrive in Lubbock-Cooper ISD from the very start.