Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE)

(for parents with a child ages 2-5 years)
English-immersion class will help parents and young children practice their English skills and help prepare children for kindergarten.  Participants will share their home languages and culture.  All adults MUST be able to speak some English.  There will be a separating time for parents to meet with a family educator while children continue to learn and play in the classroom.
Please email earlychildhood@district16.org or call 763-600-5900 to inquire about the availability of free transportation.  Sibling care is available for children ages birth-23 months
Cost:  FREE

District Service Center                      or                  District Service Center
Tuesdays, 12:30- 2 p.m.                                          Thursdays, 12:30- 2 p.m.
September 20- May 9                                                December 1- May 11
(Transportation is available)                                (Transportation is not available)
 

(ages 4 months-kindergarten)
Sibling care is available during all age-specific ECFE classes for siblings of children enrolled in classes.  Infants under four months old are welcome to attend class with the parent.  Babies older than four months are not allowed in age-specific classes; please use sibling care or make other arrangements for childcare.

Sibling care registration must be made at the time of class registration.
 Cost: Sibling Care Cost

• ECFE classes are open to all families with children from birth to pre-kindergarten five year olds.
• To keep classes safe and comfortable for participants, we do limit the number of families in each class. 
• Assume that you have gotten into class unless you are notified differently. If you pay by credit card online, your card will be charged as soon as your child is enrolled.
• You may ask to be put on a waiting list if the class you want is full. Class openings do occasionally become available.
• ECFE welcomes all families, including adults and children with disabilities. All school buildings are handicapped accessible. If special accommodations are needed, please let us know at the time you register.
• Registrations will be accepted throughout the sessions until the classes are full.

Register for ECFE classes here 

Our goal is to provide affordable, quality programming for all Spring Lake Park Schools families. Class fees are based on your total family income; see the scale below. Payment for class and sibling care must accompany registration. No Spring Lake Park Schools resident will be turned away because of an inability to pay the listed fees. Class fees may be reduced or waived. All payments will be confidential.

Use your gross annual household income to determine the suggested fee for each class. Include the fee amount in the space provided online. Fill out the online form completely and include payment for class and sibling care, if needed. Sorry, no registrations will be processed without the fee.

Class fees can be made in one or two payments.  If paying in two payments, the second half will be due on 1/23/2023.

Nature’s Buddies Class: $50 per session per child

Busy Bees: $4 per child per week or $90 per year

Family Fun Time: $4 per child or $6 per family per week or $90 per child or $125 per family per year

Little Explorers:  $45 per child per session

Little Panthers: $50 per child per session

For information about tuition assistance, please call 763-600-5900.

• Before the session begins, a full refund is issued for cancellations (minus a $5 or 10% processing fee whichever is greater). 
•  Refund after attending the first class:
  * If paid in full - 75% of the fee paid
  * If paid in half - 50% of the fee paid
•  No refund will be given after the second week of class.
• Class fees will not be refunded for classes canceled due to weather or family illness/sick days.
• ECFE reserves the right to cancel any class due to insufficient enrollment. Full refunds will be given.
• You will not be called to confirm registration, but we will notify you if a class is canceled or full

Supporting the healthy development of infants, toddlers and preschool children through community collaboration is a priority of Spring Lake Park Schools ECFE program. The goals of the Childcare Provider Partnership (CPP) program is to provide expanded support throughout the community by:

• Supporting children’s optimal growth and development in the early years, using the Early Childhood Indicators of Progress (ECIP’s), Minnesota’s early learning standards
• Providing assistance to child care providers to make sure that the children in their care and their families are ready for kindergarten
• Offering in-home professional development and learning opportunities for child care providers.  The ECFE team collaborates with interested local childcare providers at no cost.  Child care providers will have the opportunity to consult with a licensed early childhood teacher on specific challenges they face and gain a connection with SLP schools.

Two types of visits are available and will be scheduled at your convenience.

1. Early childhood activities:  During the home visits the early childhood teacher will provide developmentally appropriate activities, songs and stories for the children in the home childcare setting.
2. Earn CEU’s:  Personalized topics to apply towards licensing requirements provided by a licensed family/parent educator.  A teacher can provide in person, phone or virtual education.

During the one hour child care visit, you will consult with a licensed early childhood/family specialist and ask any questions you may have. Subsequent visits will be tailored to provide support for your unique child care environment based on specific needs you have. Areas that providers may choose to focus consultations on may include:

• Learning more about kindergarten readiness in Spring Lake Park Schools, the ECIP’s and other early childhood resources
• Routines, schedules and transitions
• Providing a high-quality learning environment
• Each child’s unique temperament
• Developing an increased knowledge of child development
• Challenging behaviors and age-appropriate expectations
• How to make referrals for children in your care

There is no cost to you, the provider, and you can decide how long you wish to participate. Our hope is that we can support you in the very important role you play in the lives of the children you care for.

• Providers will have an opportunity to consult with an experienced early childhood professional to focus on specific issues they are experiencing and discuss day-to-day challenges that may occur when working with young children
• Providers will gain a connection with their local public school and be provided with resources and services that may be available for children, families and providers
• A licensed early childhood professional will provide on-site professional development for providers who choose to participate
• CEU’s, approved by Anoka County Child Care Licensing, will be awarded at the end of the home visits to apply towards your licensing requirements

Contact Stephanie Sandvik at either 763-600-5937 or ssandv@district16.org
 

Spring Lake Park Schools Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) program believes parents are their children’s first and most important teachers. ECFE supports parents in providing the best possible learning environment for their child. Our classes and programs give parents and children a special time to play and learn together to foster development of the skills needed for successful lifelong learning. Our curriculum follows the standards outlined in the Minnesota Early Childhood Indicators of Progress and the Minnesota Parent Education Core Curriculum Framework.  Licensed teachers develop hands-on learning activities for parents and children that promote positive relationships and development in sets the foundation for successful, life-long learning in the areas of: 

• Social and Emotional Development 
• Positive Approaches to Learning 
• Language, Literacy and Communication 
• Movement and Physical Development 
• Math 
• Arts 
• Science

Parents help to choose their discussion topics so that we can explore the individual interests and needs of the parents in the class. During the parent discussion time, licensed parent educators provide current, research-based information and parents have time to share experiences and support one another in their parenting journey.

Once you have an online child care or preschool account set up, you are able to log in to do several things, including:

• Set up or make changes to your auto-pay account using your credit card, checking or savings account
• Make payments to your account
• View and print invoices, receipts and tax statements
• Register new contracts (if the program allows)
• Update contact and family information

Access your account