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% of families were able to increase their income by 28% as a direct result of accessing preschool.

Learn more here. 

Family Impacts During COVID-19 Pandemic 

Employment: Families can work and/or work additional hours

Housing: Money saved can be used to pay rent, utilities and other expenses

Health: A safe and healthy space is provided for children

Equity and Inclusion: An exemplary program focused on securing access to quality preschool for all, even during the pandemic

To view a full presentation and learn more, click here.

Benefits of sponsorship

Your sponsorship of Tempe PRE supports:

• Access to high quality and affordable child care
• Increased work and education opportunities for families
• Kindergarten readiness and future school success in Tempe

Family Partner Level ($4,500)

Sponsorship covers half the fees for one child.

Child Champion Level ($9,000)

Sponsorship covers all the fees for one child.

Teaching Teammate Level ($60,000)

Sponsorship covers salaries of an early-childhood certified teacher and instructional aide.

Classroom Hero Level ($160,000)

Sponsorship covers all the fees for all children for full year.

Find more information on sponsorship levels here. 

Tempe PRE is grateful for the support of the following sponsors:

Helios Education Foundation - $1.3 million

Helios has invested $1.3 million to work with NORC at the University of Chicago to conduct a longitudinal study of Tempe PRE children, following them into their early elementary years to study the elements needed to sustain preschool momentum, ultimately impacting 3rd grade reading and math skills.     

Piper Charitable Trust - $510,400

The Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust has committed $510,400 to support Quality First Participation and teacher professional development and training. 

First Things First - $250,000

First Things First has generously offered to cover costs of a third party evaluator, Harder & Company, to study the impact of high-quality preschool on kindergarten readiness. 

Arizona Community Foundation – Bob Cialdini & Bobette Gordon Family Foundation - $60,000

Foundation support will provide tuition assistance for low-income families to increase access to Tempe PRE.

Jerry W. Brock Foundation - $10,000

The Jerry W. Brock Foundation donated $10,000 to assist in Tempe PRE program development. 

Thriving in the classroom

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.

Explore more success stories here.