Preschool

Preschool registration will take place online at sowashco.ce.eleyo.com beginning on Jan. 6 through Feb. 7, 2025. After that time an initial lottery for placement at your designated school site will take place. Registrations that are fully completed will be placed in the initial placement lottery. After Feb. 7, registrations will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis.

If your family does not have access to a computer or needs assistance, the Early Learning office staff will be happy to assist you with your registration by phone. If you have questions or need support with your registration, please call: 651-425-7160 or 651-425-7181.

1. Go to sowashco.ce.eleyo.com
2. Click “Sign in” to sign in or “Create an Account”
3. Select “Explore All Programs”
4. Select “Preschool"
5. Click “Learn More”
6. Select your first choice of class based on your child's age, time, and location and “Enroll Now”
7. Select “Attending Child” and follow prompts
8. Mail, fax, or drop off a copy of your child’s proof of birth and immunization records.
9. If your child has already turned 3, schedule an Early Childhood Screening

In order to complete the application, you will be required to enter a payment method in the form of a credit/check card or bank account information. If you do not have the ability to enter this information, please contact our office at 651-425-7160 to complete the application over the phone.

• If you need an interpreter, please call us at:  651-425-6328
• Español: Si usted no entiende la información, por favor llámenos al 651-425-6328
• Hmoob: Yog koj tsis totaub qhov tsab ntawv, thov hu rau vim muaj yam tseem ceem. Ua koj tsaug 651-425-6328
• Tiếng Việt: Nếu bạn không hiểu các thông tin, xin vui lòng gọi cho chúng tôi 651-425-6328
• Soomaaliga: Haddii aad u baahan tahay turjumaan, fadlan wac 651-425-6328

Upon making class selections, indicate your first choice by selecting that class at the beginning of the registration process. There will be an opportunity during the registration process to indicate your second choice. You will also need to provide proof of birth (birth certificate or equivalent), immunization records and proof of early childhood screening.

If you have questions related to documents necessary for enrollment, please call our Early Learning Office: 651-425-7160.

Please note: If you are registering for the 4-year-old program, your child will not be placed in a class until Early Childhood Screening has been completed. Please call: 651-425-6636 or email screening@sowashco.org to schedule an appointment if your child has not completed Early Childhood Screening.

TUITION

• Nine monthly payments will be due on the 1st of each month, beginning Sept. 1, 2025 through May 1, 2026.
  • $205/month for students attending two days per week (Little Suns & Solar Sparks)
  • $245/month for students attending three days per week (Little Suns & Solar Sparks)
  • $415/month for students attending five days per week (Sunny Scholars)
• Payments received after the 5th of each month will be charged a $25 late fee.
• If your financial situation changes, please contact our office immediately to make arrangements for payment. Because our program is primarily supported by fees our fees are relied upon for operating expenses. Any nonpayment that becomes delinquent will be required to be sent to our collections if an alternative financial plan is not made with our office.
• A two-week notice is required when withdrawing your child from class. Failure to do so may result in additional charges. All outstanding balances must be paid in full.

REGISTRATION FEE

A registration fee of $85 is required at the time of enrollment. If you pay your registration fee by credit card, your card will not be processed until your child is placed into a class. All checks will be processed upon receipt. The registration fee is a one-time charge and is non-refundable once your child has been placed in a class.

Financial assistance is available for families that meet certain State eligibility requirements. Financial assistance can be applied for online when you are registering for preschool. Families may be required to provide proof of income. Those qualifying for assistance will also be required to complete a State Pathways Scholarship application. Limited district scholarships are available.

Class Confirmations processing of your registration fee will be confirmation of your child’s placement and you will receive an auto email response no later than March 28, 2025. Typically, most children are placed in either a first or second choice depending on demand.

• Children must be three-years-old on or before Sept. 1 to attend 3's Preschool. 
• Children must be three-years and six-months on or before Sept. 1 to attend 3.5-4-year-old Preschool.
• Children must be four-years-old on or before Sept. 1 to attend 4's Preschool.

DON'T FORGET!

Completion of Early Childhood Screening is required if your child will be four by 9/1/25 and is enrolling in preschool. Children who will be three by 9/1/25 will be required to be screened within 90 days of the start of school. It is suggested that if you are enrolling your child for preschool, and they will three prior to June 3, that a screening appointment is scheduled when enrolling. After June 3, screening appointments will be available for scheduling in August for fall enrollment and will be required for all three-and four-year-olds attending the program.

Your child will not be placed in a preschool class if they will be 4 years old by 9/1/25 and have not yet been screened. To schedule an appointment please schedule online

Early Childhood Screening is a quick and simple check of how your child is growing and developing and is required by the State of Minnesota when enrolling in a public school and is free of charge. 

District transportation for the 2025-26 program year will be limited to children supported by specific state funding eligibility, and you will be notified if your child meets the qualifiers. 

Students accepted for district transportation will receive “home to school” pick-up and drop-off. There must be an adult present when a child is dropped off. Drivers are instructed not to drop off students without adult acknowledgment (eye-to-eye) when dropping off.

As the district Preschool grows in the elementary buildings, it is our duty to partner with parents to ensure that safe practices are followed for our youngest learners. The district expectations for dropping off and picking up students are listed below as well as the transportation practices expected. We also ask that you follow your school site procedures for those safety expectations unique to the school or community site your child attends.

ARRIVAL

Parents or another designated adult must escort children to and from the classroom or the designated place where the staff will greet children each day. Children will only be released to designated individuals. Please indicate on your child’s emergency card if there are other adults who may pick up your child. An ID will be requested anytime an adult other than the child's designated  adult pick up.

If there is an emergency situation where another adult that is not listed on your child’s emergency card, must pick up your child, contact your child’s teacher and inform them in writing (email or written note) the name of the person that will pick up your child. Teachers will not release a student to a person not authorized by the parent or legal guardian.

PROMPT PICK-UP

Children attending preschool should be mostly bathroom independent, knowing when they need to use the bathroom, and are having few accidents. *Special circumstances are accommodated due to medical needs.

Preschool and Pre-Kindergarten teachers in SoWashCo Schools are required to have a solid knowledge of early childhood education and child development and hold a minimum of a 4-year college degree. Paraprofessionals are required to be “highly qualified” through their education or district assessment.

Our preschool program is composed of play-based curriculum that aligns with the Minnesota Early Childhood Indicators of Progress and is approved by the Minnesota Department of Education for public preschool programs. Our curriculum promotes your child’s learning and development through activities and classroom interactions. Curriculum currently includes:  Big Day for PreK, Handwriting Without Tears and Second Step Social Emotional Curriculum.  In addition, our preschool program provides instructional support for social emotional development through the Pyramid model.  You can find more information about the Pyramid model by visiting the Pyramid model website.

South Washington County Schools Early Learning supports children through observational assessment using Teaching Strategies Gold.  Observations are a powerful tool for early childhood educators to analyze information gathered during everyday classroom activities and routines in order to understand each unique child’s development. Consistent and comprehensive reflection on observation notes, photos, artistic creations, emergent writing, and dictations provides teachers with meaningful insight about each child and about the group as a whole. With this insight, teachers can plan activities and experiences that are responsive to children’s interests and needs. Teachers can share their understanding of each child’s growth with his or her family, while also gaining important insight to inform instruction.

Big Day for PreK

Big Day curriculum forms the foundation for your child's learning in the program. Big Day brings together high-quality literature, social-emotional development and science, math and the arts into the curriculum. Children learn through 3 big experiences per day, tailored small group activities and learning centers that result in children’s healthy development.

Handwriting without Tears

Get Set for School curriculum offers multisensory and developmentally appropriate lessons for readiness, writing, literacy, and early math skills. Lesson emphasize hands-on learning with music and/or movement-elements we know are essential for preschool brain development.

Second Step

The Second Step program promotes skills to help children be better learners, including how to focus their attention, listen carefully, and ask for help. Children also learn empathy by identifying and understanding their own and others’ feelings. They learn how to calm down when they have strong feelings, such as worry or anger. Children learn friendship skills like how to make and keep friends and to solve problems with others in a positive way.

Teaching Strategies Gold (TS Gold)

TS Gold is an ongoing assessment process that monitors your child’s developmental progress across widely held expectations for development. Teachers select learning objectives and match them to activities offered throughout the daily preschool program. Children’s progress is documented and shared with parents at conferences.

The Pyramid Framework

The Pyramid Model is a conceptual framework of evidence-based practices for promoting young children’s healthy social and emotional development. Teachers receive extensive training and ongoing coaching in the application for these best practices. Best practices include Friendship Skills, Visual Schedules and Directions, Problem Solving through social stories and Supportive Conversations with children.

Cancellation and Refund Information 

Kim Heiderscheid, Early Learning Office Coordinator: 651-425-7160 kheiders@sowashco.org 

Katie Van Overmeiren, Early Learning Office Coordinator: 651-425-7181 kvanover@sowashco.org

Early Learning office fax number: 651-425-2720

Drop-In Play sessions provide the opportunity for you and your child(ren) to pop in for some parent/child ECFE fun. Most sessions are weekly and run from September through May based on the ECFE program calendar. Registration is not required and sessions are free. Space is limited to 14 children per session. For ages birth - 5 years old unless indicated. These sessions are non-separating. Limited to 1 session per family/day.

LIBERTY RIDGE SITE 2 - 11283 EAGLE VIEW BLVD., WOODBURY, MN

• Mondays, 11:30-12:45 p.m. or 3:30-4:45 p.m.
• Tuesdays, 10:30-11:45 a.m.
• Fridays, 11 :00 a.m.-12:15 p.m., or 11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m.
• NEW THIS YEAR! Fridays, 8:45-10 a.m. (Birth to 36 months)

DISTRICT PROGRAM CENTER - 8400 E. PT. DOUGLAS RD. S., COTTAGE GROVE, MN

• Wednesdays, 9:30-10:45 a.m. or 11:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
• Thursdays, 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m.

DROP-IN PLAY WILL NOT OCCUR ON THE FOLLOWING DATES:

Sept. 30, Oct. 16-18, Nov. 5, 27-29, Dec. 2, 23-31, Jan. 1-3, 20.

ECFE NEWBORN/YOUNG BABY AND INFANT/TODDLER PARENT CONSULTATIONS (FREE)

Connect with an ECFE Parent/Infant Specialist to get all your parent questions answered for your young baby about sleep, feeding/nutrition, infant/child development, parenting challenges, such as tantrums or big behaviors and more! Available in-person, by phone or Zoom.

• For more information, scan the QR Code or call/text our ECFE Parent/Infant Specialist at 651-529-0934.

  ECFE EARLY CHILDHOOD (AGE 3 TO 8) PARENT CONSULTATIONS (FREE)

  ECFE Home Visits and Parent Consultations provide an opportunity for families with young children ages birth to 8 years, to ask parenting questions or share their concerns with a licensed Parent Educator. Home visits and consultations are provided in-person or virtually. Connect with us today for help with:

• Supporting children's emotional well-being
• Answering developmental questions
• Connecting with community resources…and much more!

To request a free ECFE Early Childhood (ages 3-8) Home Visit or Parent Consultation contact Beth Quist, ECFE Outreach Coordinator at bquist@sowashco.org or 651-425-7163.

South Washington County Schools ECFE offers FREE training opportunities for community-based early learning programs and preschools located within the South Washington County Schools district boundaries. Community-based training opportunities are taught by district early childhood licensed specialists and include a menu to select from that is individualized to the early learning program’s unique preschool experience.

Choose from:

• Parent and Child (PAC) Nights (Designed for families)
• Parent Presentations (Designed for families)
• Professional Development (Designed for staff)

Early childhood education & training for parents, caregivers, and teachers

For additional information, please contact Beth Quist, ECFE Outreach Coordinator at bquist@sowashco.org or 651-425-7163.

The Courageous Parents - Resilient Kids program series was made thanks to a grant from WellSpring.

Click the on links below to view each recorded program session.

Session One:

Being Brave: Helping Our Children Manage Stress and Anxiety

Session Two:

Brain and Body Connection: Understanding Your Child's Behavior

Session Three:

Race: Seeing the World Through Our Children's Eyes

Session Four:

Strategies for Supporting Your Child's Mental Health and Wellbeing 

Session Five:

Self Care: Filling Your Cup so You can Fill Your Child’s Cup

Trusted parenting information, resources and activities to help your children grow, develop and learn from birth through age 5. If you have concerns about your child's development, you can request a free, confidential developmental screening or evaluation through Help Me Grow. Early childhood experts from your local school district will contact you.

http://helpmegrowmn.org/HMG/index.htm

Connects parents and parenting families with young children (birth-8 years old) and services in their local communities that support healthy child development and family well-being.

https://helpmeconnect.web.health.state.mn.us/HelpMeConnect