Early Childhood Education

Welcome to Early Childhood Education!

Minneapolis Public Schools provides a range of early learning childhood programs and services for children ages birth to kindergarten and their families. Children learn a range of skills to prepare them for success in kindergarten, school and life, as their families learn how best to support their children as they grow. These programs and services include:

• Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) provides more than 30 classes and other services for families and their child from birth to 48 months.
   
• Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) serves students from birth to kindergarten identified as having a Developmental Delay (DD) or other disability.
   
• Early Childhood Screening encourages families to get their child screened by age 3 (state law requires all children to be screened before entering kindergarten).
   
• Preschool programs:
  • High Five for four year olds
  • Alphabet Soup for three year olds
  • Three School for three year olds
     
• Minneapolis Kids before and after-school care.
   
• Teen Parent Services supports all pregnant and parenting students enrolled at MPS and their children with a variety of programming including high-quality early education.
   
• Tips for Transitioning to Kindergarten

Early Childhood Indicators of Progress
The State of Minnesota’s early learning standards, called Early Childhood Indicators of Progress (ECIPs) were revised and expanded in 2016. These standards provide a framework for a common set of developmentally-appropriate expectations for children ages birth to kindergarten. The ECIPs are aligned to the Minnesota Kindergarten Academic Standards.