Early Childhood

Our Community Preschool program serves children who are progressing at a rate typical for their age. The tuition cost for the 2026-27 school year will be $450 per month. This is a highly desirable program so we use a lottery system/waitlist to ensure equity. If openings are still available, children can be enrolled at any time during the school year. Parents/Caregivers will provide transportation to and from school daily.

Click here to submit for the 2026-27 Early Childhood Lottery.

Our Preschool for All program serves children who are screened and identified as not progressing at a rate anticipated for potential success in kindergarten due to one or more at-risk variables. At-risk factors can include delays identified on screening instruments in the area of intellectual processing, pre-academics, communication skills, social-emotional development, and/or motor development. In addition, family environmental factors such as low income, homeless, parent/sibling with disability, parent education level, family structure, non-English speaking household, and others are also considered when identifying at-risk eligibility.

Our Preschool for All program is located at Ivy Hill Elementary School. Call 847.963.3450 to schedule an ECDEC screening.

The Early Childhood Special Education program serves children determined to be eligible for services through an evaluation process and IEP. These children are experiencing difficulty in one or more areas and have been identified as having a disability. Please use this Early Childhood Screening Request form if you have concerns about your child's development.

The classroom is a structured play-based environment where children are engaged in developmentally appropriate activities aligned with the Illinois Early Learning and Development Standards.

The Early Childhood Program uses the Creative Curriculum as the framework for the preschool program. This is a developmentally appropriate curriculum that is accepted by The National Association of Education for Young Children. A variety of active and quiet work/play centers are provided so children can make choices, create, and interact with peers within their environment. The materials used provide concrete experiences and are adaptable to the many different play and developmental levels of children.

The teachers develop "Units of Study" that thematically complement the children, their cultures, and the community. Check out our Tree Study!

Early Childhood Classes meet Monday through Thursday:
Morning class session:  9:10-11:40 am
Afternoon class session: 12:50-3:20 pm

Consistent daily learning schedules provide children with a balance of experiences, including large/small group activities, indoor/outdoor play, and teacher directed/self-directed learning opportunities. While we remain flexible in our daily schedule to meet the needs and interests of our students, a typical routine generally includes:

• Student Arrival: includes individual greetings, hang coats, empty backpacks, folders, and library books, attendance, independent reading, and sign in activities.
• Group Meeting: Children sing songs and fingerplays, share ideas, complete attendance, talk about the day's activities and choices. Activities include: stories, dramatics, literacy, music, dance, and games.
• Small Group Centers: Children participate in small group, teacher-directed activities designed to meet each student's individual needs. Activities may include: graphs, charts, games, writing, communication, and pre-academic skills.
• Play Time: Child-initiated play at interest centers which include: blocks and floor toys, dramatic play, table toys/manipulatives/games, open-ended art center, science center library area, sensory/water table, writing table, and computers is provided daily. Teachers plan and integrate learner objectives/outcomes throughout play activities. During this time children have opportunities to make requests, use self-help skills and practice conversation.
• Clean Up: Children sort, categorize, and organize as they put away the materials.
• Motor: Children will participate in daily motor activities such as playground, bikes, sensory pathways, gym, obstacle course, etc. They may use the early childhood playground and enclosed courtyard, weather permitting. Weekly motor room time in the gym provides opportunities to focus on age appropriate gross motor skills with centers of varying motor activities. 
• Library: Children will participate in weekly story time and book check-out with our Librarian.
• Closing Activities: Class reviews activities from the day and document their work and play on their daily sheets. Children are encouraged to put on coats and backpacks independently.

All teachers have Bachelors and/or Masters degrees and hold an Illinois State Board of Education Professional Educator License with endorsements in Early Childhood General Education, Early Childhood Special Education and English as a Second Language. 
Classroom Teaching Assistants hold ISBE Paraprofessional Licensure. Each classroom is staffed with a teacher and two teaching assistants.

Early Childhood Program staff also include licensed Speech Language Pathologists, School Psychologist, Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, School Social Worker, Behavior Consultant (BCBA) and a School Nurse to assist students who may require identified supports and services. We also receive itinerant support from Northwest Suburban Special Education Organization (NSSEO) including Teachers of the Deaf and hard of hearing, Teachers of the visually impaired, Assistive Technology Facilitator.

Communication with families is a vital component of our program and facilitates a relationship with the classroom teacher, educational team and school staff. This may be accomplished through a variety of ways such as:

• Parent/Teacher Conferences and/or IEP team meetings
• Classroom Notes or Blogs
• School Weekly Newsletters
• Email/Phone calls
• Family Enrichment and Parent Education Activities
• Trimester goal progress updates for students with IEPs 
• Periodic family surveys to assist staff in meeting the needs of students/families

Our Early Childhood Coordinator will meet with families of children receiving early intervention services as the transition process.  The early childhood team will determine the eligibility of early childhood services to ensure there is no delay in required services.

• Contact Early Intervention Services to consider an evaluation for a child 0-3 years old.
• For additional information, please review the AHSD25 Early Intervention to Early Childhood Transition letter. 
• For additional questions, please review ISBE Frequently Asked Questions