Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) recognizes that parents are their child’s first and most important teachers. ECFE offers parents hands-on learning experiences that will nourish a lifetime of teachable moments.

All ECFE classes are taught by licensed early childhood teachers and parent educators to provide the quality education parents are looking for.

Together, parents and children, newborn to kindergarten age, participate in activities and experiences that foster children’s social, emotional, cognitive, physical, and language skills.

ECFE teachers use the Parent Education Core Curriculum Framework and Early Childhood Indicators of Progress: Minnesota’s Early Learning Standards provided through the Minnesota Department of Education.

Family Time
Parents and children learn together to emphasize developing children’s language, reading and math skills.

Parent/Guardian’s Time
Licensed parent educators lead the parents through discussions intended to increase knowledge and parenting skills.

Children’s Time
Children participate in activites which focus on social and emotional development.

• Quality parent education and support
• Parent involvement with each other, their children and the program
• Quality curriculum and learning opportunities for our children with a wide variety of developmentally appropriate activities
• Affordable and accessible services to all
• Building and providing a sense of community for parents of young children
• Contributing to the goal of closing the achievement gap among SPPS students
• Hiring qualified staff reflective of the diverse cultures we serve
• Securing funding from a variety of sources and implementing cost saving strategies that continue to provide high quality programming

• Parents understand the importance of their role and how it changes over time.
• Parents have the knowledge and realistic expectations to anticipate and meet the developmental needs of their children.
• Parents demonstrate sensitive and responsive care and interaction with their children.
• Families participate in formal and informal social networks in their communities that support effective parenting.
• Families are knowledgeable about and use community resources.
• Parents and children experience a smooth transition from early childhood programs and services into kindergarten and the K-12 school system, setting the stage for school and life success.
• Parents are engaged in their children’s learning and education in the school-age years.
• Positive parent-child relationships support the child’s development in:
  • physical well-being and motor development, social and emotional development, approaches to learning (e.g., curiosity, persistence, attentiveness, reflection, interpretation, imagination, invention), and language development and communication skills, and cognition and general knowledge.

• In person registration begins July 1st, 2019. Please contact us before visiting.
• The sliding fee scale below lists recommended fees. Please contact us if you need a scholarship.
• Classes run the entire school year unless otherwise noted. We reserve the right to cancel low enrolled classes.
• All adult participants must have a child age birth to kindergarten entrance.
• Fees are collected upon registration for the first semester and in January for the second semester.
• Refunds can be made through the third week of class.
• Participants may make tax-deductible donations to sponsor other participating families.
• Preference is given to families residing in Saint Paul. If space is available after the second week of class, families residing outside Saint Paul may enroll for a 10% surcharge.
• Schedules can be changed at any time.

* First semester payment is due at registration. Second semester is collected in January.

* Please note there is an additional fee of $40/month for second day of 3 year-old programs.

* * * * REGISTER ONLINE NOW * * * *

How to Register for ECFE Online

1. Click Register and sign in to your existing account OR click Create Account if you are new.
2. Make sure all family members are in your account. Include expected children with due date as birthdate.
3. Under Community Education tab, navigate to ECFE class list (or click here)
4. Select a class and add it to your shopping cart.
5. Answer application questions and enter a saved payment method (credit card or checking account). You will be charged and receive a confirmation email.
6. Click on "Complete Checkout"

Those who register by mail will be notified by email a confirmation on whether you have been placed in a class or a waiting list. Those applying for Family Literacy classes will receive a phone call the last week of August to verify placement.

Please bring the following information to your first day of class:

• Copy of your child’s birth certificate (if you are new to Saint Paul ECFE)
• Immunization Form
• Student Information Form (if you are new to Saint Paul ECFE)
• Payment (If you have not paid online)
• Application 2019-20  or Aplicaciónen Español 2017-18 (if you did not apply online)
• 2019-20 Media Permission Form: English | Español | Hmoob | Karen | Soomaali 

Who participates in ECFE?

Parents and children participate together. Participation is voluntary. ECFE is committed to accessibility for everyone, so fees are based on a sliding fee scale or are waived for families unable to pay.

It is the goal of ECFE to serve a representative cross-section of families with young children in each community. All families have different needs. Programs offer sessions with specific topics to meet these individual needs.

Why start at birth?

Brain research confirms the first three years are an extremely critical period in a child's development. This is especially true in the areas of language, social skills and the foundation of intelligence. An infant's daily interactions with caregivers actually determine the structure of some areas of the brain itself. Getting involved in ECFE can help parents be better equipped to deal with the challenges of caring for these rapidly developing infants and toddlers.

Why involve parents?

Research shows that early childhood programs involving parents and children are more effective than programs focusing exclusively on children. Educators and psychologists agree that it is vital for early childhood programs to assist parents in their role as primary educators of their children. Involvement prior to kindergarten encourages parents to play an active role in their children's learning throughout their entire education. Children whose parents are involved in their education have been shown to be more successful in school.

Who benefits from ECFE?

Society benefits from strong families and healthy, well-developed children. The potential of ECFE to prevent or reduce later learning problems of children has been confirmed by evaluation of ECFE and similar programs. Parents involved in ECFE report feeling more supported and more confident in their role as parents. They also report having a better understanding of how children develop and having improved parenting skills. Research strongly suggests that dollars spent on ECFE are more than repaid by savings in remedial health, education and welfare costs later.

Early Childhood Screening for Kindergarten

Required by State Law for children before starting Kindergarten and required for Pre-K entrance. Screening checks for:

    • Vision            • Speech
    • Hearing         • Development
    • Height           • Social/Emotional
    • Weight          • Health History
    • Immunization Review

Screening is recommended for children when they are 3 (and up to 5) for early identification of any concerns which may interfere with learning. Screening is offered by Saint Paul Public Schools free of charge. Forms are available from the Early Childhood Screening Office if parents choose to have their own health provider complete the screening. For day and Evening Appointments, call 651-632-3746 or contact Early Childhood Screening

Developmental Concerns

If you have concerns about the development of your child, contact Help Me Grow at 1-866-693-4769

Help Me Grow

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Early learning & Story time

Early Childhood Screening (SPPS) 

Early Childhood Special Education (SPPS) 

Pre-Kindergarten (SPPS)