Early Childhood

Growing and learning. Support and connection.

Early Childhood Programming for Your Developing Child and Your Family

The early childhood years from birth to the start of kindergarten are an important time of rapid learning and growth. Sauk Rapids-Rice Early Childhood Preschool and Preschool programming offers exceptional learning experiences for 3-, 4-, and 5-year olds before kindergarten. Social and learning skills are stressed through play, art, music, games and other developmentally appropriate activities. Our four and five-year-old program meets kindergarten entrance expectations, focusing on readiness skills.

Our district's Early Childhood and Family Education (ECFE) classes offer families time to interact with their young learners and other families with children at the same developmental age.

Early childhood screening in our district is a quick and simple check of how your child is doing and can identify, at an early age, possible health or learning concerns, so that children can get help before starting school. Screening is a mandatory requirement prior to kindergarten enrollment in any public school in Minnesota.

Boy in Early Childhood on a climbing wall turned and smiling at the camera

Main Contact

SUE PAASCH
DIRECTOR
Phone: 320-255-8910
Fax: 320-258-1197
sue.paasch@isd47.org

Wondering What Makes a Quality Early Childhood Program?
Fun Facts About Us

Wondering What Makes a Quality Early Childhood Program?

We value and prioritize providing the best learning environment for your child. It's important that your child's growth and development during early childhood is started to right way. Our teachers have a four-year degree, minimum in early childhood. We provide curriculum that is age appropriate and tracks the children's progress.

To ensure every child is receiving what they need, we have individualized instruction respecting different learning styles and abilities. We offer support services like speech to provide each child help where it is needed.

We encourage parent involvement and offer frequent communication through newsletters and conferences. Our open atmosphere invites parents to visit and observe their child's journey. We also have licensed parent educators for parents with a minimum four-year degree.

Fun Facts About Us

Sauk Rapids-Rice Early Childhood Programs is a 4-Star Parent Aware rated program. Four stars is the highest ranking a program can receive.
Sauk Rapids-Rice Early Childhood Programs has been designated an “exemplary program” by the Doris Duke Foundation and the Center for the Study of Social Policy in Washington, D.C. The only early childhood program in Minnesota to receive this award, Sauk Rapids-Rice is one of 21 programs throughout the nation that was honored by this distinction.
Our school readiness preschool classes are integrated with early childhood special education. Typically developing children have the opportunity to be part of classes including children with a variety of abilities.
ECFE classes are offered to meet the needs of busy young families.
Curriculum is based on developmentally appropriate practices for children and Minnesota state standards for early childhood. Parent education curriculum is individualized for each parent group.
Funding comes from state aid and a local levy. Tuition fees and additional funding from a variety of grants and collaborations maintain the program.