Blended Preschool For All Program
Our Preschool For All (PFA) Blended Program provides a comprehensive, research based pre-kindergarten curriculum with activities to enhance and stimulate cognitive, gross/fine motor, social emotional, and language development in preparation for kindergarten.
Contact: [email protected]
The Screening and Enrollment Process
Step 1: Sign up to be placed on screening list - https://forms.gle/UZJs8d9JM55Uk6ie6
Step 2: wait to be contacted via email to schedule a screening appointment- typically 1-2 weeks prior to screening date (see screening dates in the FAQs)
Step 3: Bring your child to the screening appointment and bring all required documents
Step 4: After the screening, wait to hear from us regarding placement- Placement outcomes are
-Offered seat in program
-Wait list
Step 5 (If applicable): If offered a seat in the program, you will be contacted via email with a letter stating the school and your child’s teacher with a start date.
Step 6 (If applicable): Attend your first day of school (according to the start date in program placement offer)
What are the program options and hours (Instructional Hours)?
Half-Day programing
8:45 am - 11:15 am
12:15 pm - 2:45 pm
Full-Day programing
8:45 am - 2:45 pm
Do I get to pick if my student is in half-day or full day?
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.
What school will my child attend?
Currently, we have programming at Woodgate Elementary and Sieden Prairie Elementary schools.
Can I request a specific teacher or school?
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.
What Curriculum do you use?
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.)
Does my child have to be toilet trained to participate/attend?
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.
My child has an IEP (Individualized Education Plan), can they attend?
Yes! Even if your child is transferring from another district. We can assist you with that process during enrollment/screening.
Does your program provide bus transportation?
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
What adults are helping my child throughout the day?
Each classroom has a ISBE (Illinois State Board of Education) Certified Teacher and Instructional Assistant/Paraprofessional
What does “Blended” preschool mean?
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.
I am currently experiencing homelessness, living in transitional or temporary housing, who do I contact to get support with preschool enrollment?
Please email us at [email protected] or call 708-720-1300 (ask for McKinney-Vento staff) and we will be able to assist you.
For Screening day and eligibility, what are my options to verify my income?
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.
What is accessed in the screening?
We use a research-based screening protocol that looks at a child’s cognitive, social emotional, language, and motor skills.
When will I be contacted after signing up for a screening?
You will be contacted via email or phone if you don’t respond to email to set up a screening appointment.
Do I bring my child to the screening appointment?
What documents do I bring to the 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
- Proof of Residency Documents
If my child doesn't perform well on the screening does that mean they don’t get in?
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.)
When is the next screening date?
Friday, October 4th - 8:30am - 12:30pm
Woodgate Elementary School
101 Central Ave, Matteson, IL 60443
How do I place my child on the screening list?
Please complete the Screening Form at least 3 days prior to any given screening date.
Who should I contact if I have more specific questions?
Please email us at [email protected] with any questions.