About Early Childhood Center

General Information About ECC

• Preschool is available for 3-5 year olds.
• Children must be 3 on or before July 31st.
  Classes will employ one teacher for a class of 10 students. A teacher and a teacher assistant will be employed for each class of 11-20 students.
• The program is designed to meet the Missouri Early Childhood standards and prepare all students for kindergarten.
• Parents will be responsible for transporting their child to and from the program.
• All resident students are welcome to apply, and will be screened for developmental readiness by Parents as Teachers.
• Students with the greatest student need will be offered admission to the preschool with tuition paid by Title I funding as funding allows. (District residents only.) Student need is based upon multiple criteria, including their performance on the Dial-4 assessment.
• Additional students will be enrolled and parents will be responsible for the tuition.

Our Vision

It is the vision of the City of St. Charles School District to provide a preschool program that offers individualized learning experiences in all developmental domains. Recognizing the uniqueness of each child and family, we will develop positive partnerships between home and school, working collaboratively to ensure that each child gains confidence and skills to be a successful learner.

Our Philosophy

The St. Charles School District Early Childhood Preschool program operates under the philosophy that learning is child-centered, process oriented and choice driven.  A variety of developmentally appropriate, hands-on learning opportunities are provided, such as language and literacy, dramatic play, blocks, science, math, games, puzzles, books, art, music, motor skill development and outdoor play opportunities. Instruction is organized in thematic units.  The preschool classrooms are implementing a curriculum that aligns with the Missouri Early Learning Standards as well as Project Construct, Missouri’s recommended framework for Early Childhood. The environment will provide experiences that stimulate your child’s social, physical, intellectual and language development. Children learn through play in a safe environment that fosters discovery while building on each child’s strengths. Teachers facilitate the development of self-control in children by using positive guidance techniques such as modeling and encouraging appropriate behaviors, redirecting, and setting clear limits.

Why is Play Important?

Play is essential for children to learn.  Research indicates that children learn best in an environment which allows them to play, explore and discover.  Play is an important part of a developmentally appropriate preschool program.  Play enhances language development, thinking skills, social competence, creativity, and imagination.  Children need an active environment that is safe and offers choices.

Play provides the opportunity for children to practice new skills.  Simple play experiences help children gain knowledge about the world and use their real experiences to organize concepts of how the world works. Children build upon what they know.   Through play, children explore their world, find out how to get along with others, test their skills and muscles, try out new ideas and feel secure enough to try different activities.  Play is an important part of life!