The St. Joseph School District offers multiple opportunities to participate in an Early Learning classroom experience. We currently have the capacity to serve 468 students through a variety of programs. This site includes 19 Title-funded and Integrated classrooms.  SJSD Early Learning Center is located at the 1800 Alabama St, St Joseph, MO 64501. 816-671-4009

General Education

This program is designed to honor the nature of learning for young children. Children learn and grow in developmental stages. They learn best when actively interacting with others and with materials that are interesting to them. Children make predictable errors on the road to learning, and they require multiple opportunities for learning to become embedded.

Active family involvement is an integral part of the program. Families are the first and most consistent teachers that children experience in their lives. Children will make the most progress when families and teachers work together. An early childhood teacher and para-professional will plan age-appropriate learning experiences to promote growth and development in the classroom and at home.

St. Joseph School District Preschool students are in session Monday - Thursday with no school on Fridays beginning August 22, 2022. 

Start Date
August 22, 2022

Morning Session - Monday-Thursday
8:30 AM - 11:30 AM

Afternoon Session - Monday-Thursday
12:30 PM - 3:30 PM

Transportation
The St. Joseph School District is offering transportation to all preschoolers with Apple Bus. To facilitate this process, the children have been placed in classrooms according to their address. We anticipate that most children will be riding the bus. If you choose to transport your preschooler, she/he will still be placed in preschool according to your address.

If you transport your child, we require that you follow building arrival and dismissal plans.

Enrollment
Pre-Kindergarten age is defined as any child that will be 4 years of age by August 1st of the school year. Based on federal funding guidelines, we must service those students with the most need first. Need is determined based on a set of criteria including a developmental screening and parent questionnaire.

If you and your family are interested in determining eligibility for the general education or Title I program, click here to make an appointment for our next Early Childhood Screening.

Special Education

Young students who have identified developmental delays may be eligible to attend classes that provide early childhood special education. These children, ages three through pre-kindergarten, demonstrate a need for Individualized Educational Programs (IEP). The St. Joseph School District offers a variety of classrooms with ECSE staff, and children are placed in classrooms based on their strengths, needs and goals.

Preschool Developmental Stages

Attendance

Early Learning Handbook

Early Learning Handbook (Spanish)