Austin Early Childhood Center to Open at Pease Site in 2028
The historic campus will serve 120 children starting in 2028 with new childcare and family support services for local parents.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Child Care
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Austin Independent School District will reopen the historic Pease Elementary campus as an early childhood education center in 2028. The 2.2-acre site will serve 120 children ranging from infants to 6-year-olds with expanded childcare and family support services.
Why it matters
This project aims to address local gaps in affordable childcare while preparing young children for kindergarten. By integrating resources for food, healthcare, and housing, the center seeks to provide holistic support for working families in the Austin area.
The project involves an $18.8 million renovation of the 2.2-acre Pease Elementary campus, with $2.3 million allocated for staffing and opening operations. The facility will be managed by United Way for Greater Austin under a 50-year lease agreement approved in 2025.
The players
Austin Independent School District
The public school system responsible for primary and secondary education that retains land ownership of the Pease campus.
United Way for Greater Austin
A nonprofit organization that coordinates community resources and will serve as the manager for the new childcare facility.
Moody Foundation
A philanthropic organization focused on funding community projects that provided a $1.8 million donation for this initiative.
The details
United Way will manage the facility, which will offer comprehensive family support services alongside early childhood education. The renovation will transform the historic 1876 structure into a modern learning environment for infants and young children. While the district retains ownership of the land, the nonprofit operator will oversee all daily operations and community outreach programs once the project is complete.
Timeline
1876: Pease Elementary originally opened.
2013: The site was designated as a historic landmark.
2020: The elementary school closed its doors.
2025: The school district approved a 50-year lease for the site.
2028: The new early childhood education center is expected to open.
The Home Front
The redevelopment sits within a growing trend of adaptive reuse for vacant school properties to address community infrastructure needs. This project specifically navigates the regulatory requirements of the 2013 historic landmark designation while expanding local child-care capacity.
Families in the area should monitor future announcements from the Austin Independent School District regarding enrollment timelines and age-specific eligibility. It is also worth keeping a record of local support programs for housing and nutrition, which will be centralized at the new site.
The takeaway
This development marks a significant shift in local land use, repurposing a historic campus to serve contemporary family childcare needs. Families should track progress on the 2028 opening date as planning for staffing and service enrollment continues.
Further reading
For updates on local educational resources, explore the Child Care section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Austin American-Statesman.
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