Child Learning Academies

Child Learning Academies
After considerable discussion and planning as a teacher and staff retention effort, Richardson ISD will open two employee-only child care facilities, called Child Learning Academies (CLAs), in the 2023-24 school year.
The CLA programs will serve children of full time Richardson ISD employees starting at 6 weeks old, until they are eligible for Pre-K at age 3. To be eligible, employee children must be born and have not turned 3 before September 1. Infants must be 6 weeks old to enter the program.
CLA registration for the 2023-24 school year will open February 1, 2023 at 5pm and close on February 15 at 5pm. If demand among RISD employees exceeds space available, a lottery will be conducted to award seats.
- CLA Location 1: 1231 W. Belt Line Road Belt Line Rd – expected to open in August 2023 for beginning of 2023-24 school year.
- CLA Location 2: Within Canyon Creek Elementary, 2100 Copper Ridge Dr – expected to open in January, 2024 for the second semester of 2023-24 school year.
Because employee demand is expected to exceed available seats upon launch, RISD recognizes the initial opening of the child learning academies may not meet all employee preferences, requests, or individual situations. The district intends to consider additional locations and capacity for the future, which will allow for additional flexibility and seats to accommodate more employee families.
Enrollment FAQs
Children of any RISD full time employees may attend one of the district’s two Child Learning Academies. The CLA programs will serve children of full time Richardson ISD employees starting at 6 weeks old, until they are eligible for Pre-K at age 3. To be eligible, employee children must be born and have not turned 3 before September 1. Infants must be 6 weeks old to enter the program.
Children born after Sept. 1 will be eligible for registration (and lottery if necessary) the following year. Children age 3 or older on Sept. 1 are not eligible for the CLA program and are welcome to enroll in RISD’s Pre-K 3 program.
Children are served within the age ranges as follows:
- Younger infants
- Older infants
- Younger toddlers
- Older toddlers
- Younger 2s
- Older 2s
Space availability within these age ranges generally impact what children are awarded seats through a lottery system. Students who are age 3 or over on September 1 are not eligible for the CLA program, and are welcome to enroll in RISD’s Pre-K 3 program
Registration will open on February 1, 2023 at 5 pm for the 2023-24 school year that begins in August. Registration will remain open for two weeks, closing on February 15, 2023 at 5 pm. Children who are registered after February 15th cannot be considered for seats until after initial placements are made among children who were registered by the deadline. If demand for seats exceeds available space, a lottery will be utilized among eligible children registered before the deadline. Initial placement notifications are projected to be made in March, 2023. All registrants will be notified, whether they have been awarded a seat initially or not.
The CLA program is a staff recruitment and retention program, and new lotteries are conducted for additional seat openings to allow new RISD teachers and staff a chance to utilize the program.
The priority order to fill seats that open during the program year is as follows:
- Siblings of currently enrolled CLA students for whom no space was available after the family was awarded a seat in the initial lottery – based on age and space available for the open seat.
- If no additional full time employee families have registered since the initial lottery, the initial lottery results will determine subsequent placements.
- If one or more full time employee families have registered since the previous lottery, then a new lottery will be conducted to award subsequent seats. The CLA program is a staff recruitment and retention program, and new lotteries are conducted for additional seat openings to allow new RISD teachers and staff a chance to utilize the program.
Daily Operations FAQs
Parents/adults of enrolled children must display their district-issued badge at all times while on CLA property, and all parents/adults will be required to use the same door to enter/exit the facility. An adult dropping off or picking up a child who does not have a district-issued badge will have to be buzzed in, and identification may be required (matching the list of parent-provided emergency contacts) if someone is picking up a child without a badge. A staff member will escort the child to class after arrival and bring the child from the classroom to the lobby for pick up. Doors will remain locked at all times, and can only be unlocked by CLA staff or adults who have a district-issued badge.
Snacks, burp cloths, mealtime bibs, cots, sheets, blankets, gloves, and cleaning supplies.
Staffing and Environment FAQs

Contact Us
For more information about the Child Learning Academies, contact Rachel Harris at rachel.harris@risd.org or at 469-593-9202.

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