PARENTS OF CHILDREN AGES 0-4
The MN Department of Education provides funding to the district for preschool programs based on the number of children, ages 0-4, we
have on record. We need to count you in.
WE HAVE IMPORTANT
INFORMATION TO SHARE WITH YOU!
If you have children in your household from 0 through 4 years of age
and you have not received school district preschool mailings, or if
you have moved into the district during the past year, please take a moment to let us know about your children by calling the
Elementary school at 243-3725 or ECFE at 243-KIDS (5437).
We can inform you about early childhood screening and
interesting classes and activities for you and your child.
Early Childhood Programs
Early Childhood Screening
Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE)
Community Education Preschool
School Readiness
Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE)
Early Childhood Screening
WHO IS REQUIRED TO BE SCREENED?
All children living in District 741, who are between 3 1/2 and 4 1/2 years old, NEED to participate in the FREE screening program before entering kindergarten or have an equivalent screening from a phyican.
Developmental screening is not meant to assess readiness for kindergarten but just looks at how a child is developing at this point in time. The State of MN recommends that children are screened between the ages of 3 1/2- 4. Children are not expected to be able to do all items on the screening test.
Screening is a service available for all children, even if home schooling or private school is the family's choice. NOTE: Children who attend Head Start or Early Childhood Special Education Programs MAY not need to be screened. Call 243-7543 for more information.
WHO DOES THE SCREENING?
The screening is conducted by licensed early childhood teachers, educational speech and language clinician, and the school nurse.
WHAT DOES THE SCREENING INCLUDE?
Early Childhood Screening is a quick and simple check of how your child is developing. The screening identifies, at an early age, possible health and learning concerns in order to help prevent them from becoming more serious. The components of the screening include:
Vision and Hearing Check
Height and Weight
Immunization Review
Developmental and Speech Progress
Family Information Review
WHERE ARE THE SCREENINGS HELD?
In the Early Childhood Rooms at Paynesville Elementary School
WHEN ARE THE SCREENINGS HELD?
Screenings are done on scheduled Fridays throughout the school year.
HOW DO I MAKE AN APPOINTMENT?
Children will be scheduled around their 4th birthday. An information packet along with an appointment date and time will be mailed to you approximately 2 weeks before your child's appointment. If you child is over 4 and has not been screened, please call 243-7543 to assure that he/she is on our census list.
Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE)
Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) classes are offered to children according to their age, from infancy up to the time they enter kindergarten. Parents and children attend the sessions together to do age appropriate learning activities for the child and to give parents an opportunity to discuss various topics related to being a parent. The one to one and a half hour class each week is divided into 3 parts.
The first part is designed for parent and child to spend time together connecting while engaging in activities planned by a licensed teacher.
The second part is for your child to spend time with the teacher and assistant learning through play and and forming friendships with other children. Mom/Dad and child in the 3-5 age groups separate during the parent time. Mom/Dad and child in the 0-3 age groups stay in the same room during the parent time.
The third part is an opportunity for parents to share ideas and concerns with other parents. The support and encouragement of others is helpful to parents while raising their children. You will find you are not alone. A licensed parent facilitator leads the group in pertinent topics.
The class fee is based on a sliding scale fee, however, no family will be denied participation due to the inability to pay.
ECFE: Come for your child and stay for yourself.
Located in Room 118 of Paynesville Elementary School
Parent Educator,
Child Educator,
243-KIDS (5437)
For Current class schedules go to: http://www.paynesvillece.com/
Community Education Preschool
Community Education Preschool is a program where four and five year olds can experience a variety of fun and educational hands-on activities designed to stimulate their social and intellectual development as they move along the road to kindergarten.
The Preschool is funded monthly by families and all children are invited to attend in the community. Children attend a two hour and twenty minute session three days a week either in the morning or afternoon. It is not a requirement for your child to be preschool screened before enrolling in this Preschool option. The classes are taught by a licensed teacher with help of an assistant. Registration information is available online at www.paynesvillece.com
Located in Room 118 of Paynesville Elementary School
243-KIDS (5437)
For current schedules and information go to: www.paynesvillece.com
Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE)
Services are available to children from birth to age 7 who meet state criteria as having a developmental delay or if they have a medically diagnosed disability.
Referrals to ECSE most often come from parents and physicians for younger children. Other referrals come from early childhood screening. If a child is demonstrating delays during the screening, the team may ask the parents to consider further evaluation to see if the child qualifies for ECSE services. If a child qualifies for services an Individual Education Plan is written. (see Special Education page for more information on evaluations and IEP’s).
Children ages 0-3 are serviced in their homes by teachers and therapists from West Central Education District which is based out of Sauk Centre. Referrals and questions can be directed to: Maura O'Connor 320-352-6120 ext. 27 (you may call her collect)
Children ages 3-6 who qualify for services attend a half day center based program that is located in the Elementary School.
Children who are receiving ECSE services and continue to demonstrate a delay may continue to receive those services until their 7th birthday, often through their kindergarten and first grade school year. Once they turn 7, if they continue to show a need, they will be reevaluated to determine if they qualify under a different category of special education.
The Early Childhood Special Education classrooms are located in rooms 124-126 in Paynesville Elementary School. The direct phone number is 243-7543
Teachers for the center based program are:
Pam Pfeifer ppfeifer@paynesville.k12.mn.us
Karen Mumm-Thompson--speech/language clinican
kmumm@paynesville.k12.mn.us
Last updated
August, 2010