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
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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.

At SoWashCo Schools, our preschool teachers are licensed early childhood educators who bring strong expertise in early childhood education and child development. All lead teachers hold a minimum of a four-year college degree and an early childhood teaching license.

Our dedicated paraprofessionals are also considered "highly qualified" through a combination of relevant education and/or district-administered assessments, ensuring a high standard of support for every child.

Curriculum and Assessment
SoWashCo Schools’ preschool program follows a play-based approach using Creative Curriculum, a comprehensive, research-based curriculum aligned with the Minnesota Early Childhood Indicators of Progress and approved by the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth and Families. Supplemental curriculum materials include Handwriting Without Tears for early literacy and fine motor development, and Second Step for social-emotional learning.

Social-emotional skill building is further supported through the Pyramid Model, which provides instructional coaching to ensure effective, evidence-based strategies are used for both classroom-wide and individualized support.

Teachers use Teaching Strategies GOLD for continuous observation and assessment, allowing them to tailor instruction to each child's needs and share developmental progress with families.

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 will resume in September – check our catalog for dates and times for fall.

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/week.

ECFE Home Visits and Parent Consultations

ECFE Home Visits and Parent Consultations provide an opportunity for families with young children, to ask parenting questions or share their concerns with a licensed Parent Educator. Home visits and consultations are provided in-person or virtually. 

Home Visits or Parent Consultations (ages 3-8) Will resume in the fall of 2025

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