Harmony Public Schools' Houston South and West Districts have partnered with Kids 'R' Kids Learning Academy of Cardiff Ranch in Katy and Villa Di Maria Montessori in Sugar Land to expand access to high-quality early childhood education and help prepare young learners for success in kindergarten and beyond, the charter school system announced on June 1. Through the partnerships, eligible families will have access to pre-K 3 and Pre-K 4 programs that support children's academic, social and emotional development in nurturing learning environments. Students will benefit from Harmony's proven academic and STEM-focused approach, providing a strong foundation for future learning and achievement, the news release said. Harmony has partnered with Kids 'R' Kids Learning Academy of Cardiff Ranch to serve families connected to Harmony Science Academy – Katy Elementary. Kids 'R' Kids uses a play-based curriculum that promotes school readiness through literacy, math, science and social-emotional learning while incorporating early brain development and hands-on STEAM activities that encourage creativity, problem-solving and critical thinking. Students participating in the Kids 'R' Kids partnership will benefit from tuition-free enrollment for eligible students, a structured early childhood curriculum, experienced educators and a strong focus on social, emotional and academic growth. Harmony Science Academy – Katy Elementary is located at 22400 Grand Corner in Katy. Families connected to Harmony School of Excellence – Sugar Land Elementary will have access to the Villa Di Maria Montessori partnership. Participating students will benefit from a strong focus on kindergarten readiness, individualized learning experiences, Montessori-certified educators and alignment between Harmony and Villa Di Maria academic calendars and instructional schedules. Villa Di Maria Montessori, established in 2017, offers an individualized curriculum led by Montessori-certified educators and emphasizes hands-on learning that fosters independence, creativity and self-directed exploration. The school is licensed and accredited as a childcare center, maintains good standing with all applicable state agencies and is a Texas Rising Star 3-Star certified program. Students may qualify for tuition-free Pre-K through Texas Education Agency eligibility requirements if they are 3 or 4 years old by Sept. 1 and meet one or more qualifying criteria, including being an emergent bilingual student, qualifying for free or reduced-price meals, experiencing homelessness, being in or previously in foster care, having a parent on active military duty, having lost a parent in military service, having a parent who received the Star of Texas Award, or having a parent who is a public school classroom teacher in the district.

"These partnerships reflect our commitment to expanding access to high-quality early childhood education for families in the communities we serve," said Ramazan Coskuner, Harmony Public Schools Houston South & West Districts Superintendent. "By providing strong academic foundations and engaging learning experiences, we are helping students develop the skills they need to thrive in kindergarten and beyond." For more information about enrollment and eligibility, contact Harmony Science Academy-Katy Elementary at 832-437-3926 or Harmony School of Excellence-Sugar Land Elementary at 346-350-5888.

Harmony Public Schools is a Texas-born, Texas-wide public charter school system with more than 60 campuses serving PreK-Grade 12 students in 23 cities across the state, including Greater Houston, DFW, San Antonio, Austin, El Paso, Waco, Lubbock, Midland-Odessa, Bryan, Beaumont, and the Rio Grande Valley. Harmony’s curriculum places a heavy focus on STEM skills, Character Education, project-based learning, and college readiness.