Blended Preschool For All Program

Half-Day programing 

8:45 am - 11:15 am

12:15 pm - 2:45 pm

Full-Day programing 

8:45 am - 2:45 pm

We do ask families if they have a preference for half-day or full-day, but it is only a preference and not a guarantee. As a practice, we do prioritize 4- year old students for full day options. 

Currently, we have programming at Woodgate Elementary and Sieden Prairie Elementary schools.

There are a number of factors that go into each classroom make-up of students. Some of those factors are determined by the Illinois State Board of Education (for example: in a classroom of 20 students, up to 6  students in each classroom can be receiving special education services (other than speech-only) ).  

While parents may have a preference for a teacher or school, this can not always be honored and in many cases is not honored due to the complexity of student placements. 

We do work to place students in schools where they have a sibling currently attending, but this is not a guarantee.

We utilize the Creative Curriculum as our mainstream curriculum - 

“The Creative Curriculum for Preschool empowers children to be confident, creative, and caring learners through play-based, hands-on investigations—a research-based approach that incorporates language, literacy, and mathematics throughout the day.”

https://teachingstrategies.com/product/the-creative-curriculum-for-preschool/

For assessment, we use a student learning portfolio that assesses work samples of your student’s work throughout the year to show growth as well as additional assessments that focus on the student’s academic readiness (example: letter sounds, number recognition, writing, rote counting, etc.)

No. All of our instructional assistants/ paraprofessionals are trained in supporting your child as they are beginning toilet training. If your child isn’t toilet trained, families are expected to provide pull-ups/diapers and wipes. 

Yes! Even if your child is transferring from another district. We can assist you with that process during enrollment/screening. 

We do offer bus transportation to and from the home address in the registration file (PowerSchool online). We DO NOT transport to child care centers or home-based/community based daycare centers

Each classroom has a ISBE (Illinois State Board of Education) Certified Teacher and Instructional Assistant/Paraprofessional

Blended Early Childhood program is a preschool class which services students ages three through five years old. Additionally, we include students with IEPs in the mainstream classroom. Some also refer to this as inclusive based programming.

Please email us at [email protected] or call 708-720-1300 (ask for McKinney-Vento staff) and we will be able to assist you. 

You can use any of the options below to verify income: 

• Pay stubs (two most recent, consecutive)  
• Proof of WIC benefit 
• Proof of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit  
• Proof of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) enrollment • Proof of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefit  
• Proof the family receives Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) 
• Tax return (most recent)  
• Wages and tax statement (most recent W-2) 
• Verification/letter from employer
• Proof that parent is enrolled in Medicaid (a medical card with the child’s name does not prove income eligibility).  
• Signed written statement from the family (provide form for families with no income). This is only an option when families have no income sources. 

** Please contact us at [email protected]  if you have no income or any of the other options listed. 

We use a research-based screening protocol that looks at a child’s cognitive, social emotional, language, and motor skills.

You will be contacted via email or phone if you don’t respond to email to set up a screening appointment.

• • Proof of Residency Documents 
    • Driver’s License or State ID (Must match the residency address) 
    • Mortgage or Lease/Deed
    • 2 current utility bills within the last 60 days 
    • (If Applicable) Notarized Affidavit of Residence (If you live with the homeowner or leaseholder, they must be present as well)
  • Child’s Original Birth Certificate 
  • Current Physical/immunization records no older than July 1, 2024
  • Proof of income Options
    
    • 2 current pay students (last 60 days)
    • SSI
    • Copy of WIC, TANIF, SNAP, CCAP
    • Medicaid card 

The screening is just one component to determine admittance to our program. We do work to prioritize placements to students who need it the most based on a number of factors (examples: a student’s age, foster parents/ward of the state, single parent, at least one parent active duty military, speech concerns from guardian(s) or screening results, low income, etc.)

Our Program is near capacity, we will contact families on the waiting list when space is available.

 Please complete the Screening Form at least 3 days prior to any given screening date. 

https://forms.gle/UZJs8d9JM55Uk6ie6

Please email us at [email protected] with any questions.