Prekindergarten for Fours

Announcement
Registration is first come, first served. These school locations still have openings for the 2026-27 school year:
- Arbor View Early Childhood Center
- Willow Lane Early Childhood Center
- Basswood Elementary School
- Cedar Island Elementary School
- Fernbrook Elementary Scool
- Oak View Elementary School
- Rice Lake Elementary School
How to apply for Prekindergarten for Fours
- Learn about school year 2026–27 attendance boundaries and use school finder tools
- Complete an application
- Ask about scholarship eligibility or financial assistance
Learn about school year 2026–27 attendance boundaries and use school finder tools
Complete an application
Ask about scholarship eligibility or financial assistance
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to frequently asked questions:
- How do I register my child for Preschool/PreK?
- Does my child need to be toilet trained before starting in the program?
- When does registration open for school year 2026-27?
- Does my child need to complete Early Childhood Screening before registering for Preschool/PreK?
- Is transportation available for my child?
- Can I register after the lottery is held?
- How does the Preschool for Threes and Prekindergarten for Fours lottery work?
- What happens if my child doesn’t get into one of my class choices?
- How many waiting rooms can my child be in?
- How does the waiting room work?
- How much is tuition?
- How do I make tuition payments?
- How do I know who is teaching my child's class?
- Can I schedule a tour to visit a school or classroom?
- My child currently attends a prekindergarten program in Osseo Area Schools. Do I need to complete the kindergarten enrollment process?
How do I register my child for Preschool/PreK?
You can register online at osseoschools.arux.app. There you will find complete class schedules and details. If you need assistance, call 763-391-8777 or email ecfe@district279.org.
Does my child need to be toilet trained before starting in the program?
Please check with each program for their specific toilet-training expectations. Our programs ask that children are mostly self-sufficient with bathroom needs; while recognizing every child develops at their own pace and we partner with families to support that growth.
For families seeking additional guidance, Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) offers several supportive resources:
- Video: Watch Toileting at Preschool for practical tips and expectations.
- Personalized support: Connect with a licensed parent educator for individual phone consultations, home visits, or specialized classes.
- Live online Question & Answer (Q&A) sessions: Watch for more information about online Question and Answer sessions coming this fall.
Questions? Call 763-391-8777 or email ECFE@district279.org
When does registration open for school year 2026-27?
Registration is first come, first served. These school locations still have openings for the 2026-27 school year:
- Arbor View Early Childhood Center
- Willow Lane Early Childhood Center
- Basswood Elementary School
- Cedar Island Elementary School
- Fernbrook Elementary Scool
- Oak View Elementary School
- Rice Lake Elementary School
Does my child need to complete Early Childhood Screening before registering for Preschool/PreK?
- No, your child does not need to complete Early Childhood Screening before registering. Have your child screened between the ages of three and five.
- Early Childhood Screening is a free and simple way to check your child’s growth, development, and learning. Learn more about screening at ce.district279.org/early-childhood/screening
- If your child has already been screened in another school district, please email the screening paperwork to ecfe@district279.org.
Is transportation available for my child?
In Prekindergarten for Fours: Free transportation may be available for students who qualify based on home address and attendance area. Transportation is one way only: to school for morning classes or home from school for afternoon classes. For more information visit district279.org/transportation, call 763-391-7244 or email: busquestions@district279.org
If a request is received by August 14, 2026, transportation will start the first day of school (if eligible) for the 2026-27 school year. Requests received after August 14, 2026 will be processed in the order received once routes are open in mid-September.
Can I register after the lottery is held?
How does the Preschool for Threes and Prekindergarten for Fours lottery work?
What happens if my child doesn’t get into one of my class choices?
How many waiting rooms can my child be in?
How does the waiting room work?
When a spot becomes available in a class, the office runs a mini-lottery among the students in that class’s waiting room. Parents or guardians of the selected child are notified and have 48 hours to respond by phone or email to accept the spot. If there is no response, another mini-lottery is held, and the spot is offered to someone else.
How much is tuition?
Tuition is based on a sliding fee scale that considers household income and family size. The specific fee scale is available in the registration brochure. If the tuition cost would prevent you from enrolling your child, call 763-391-8777 to discuss financial assistance. Scholarships may be available to help reduce tuition for families who qualify.
How do I make tuition payments?
- Tuition is divided into nine equal monthly payments, due on the 15th of each month. Payments are automatically charged to the credit card or bank account you provide.
- If you prefer, you can pay the full annual tuition upfront and receive a 5% discount if payment is made before Sept. 14.
- When your child is enrolled in a class after the lottery process, a nonrefundable $25 registration fee and the first month's tuition are charged. The remaining eight payments are made monthly from September through April.
How do I know who is teaching my child's class?
Can I schedule a tour to visit a school or classroom?
My child currently attends a prekindergarten program in Osseo Area Schools. Do I need to complete the kindergarten enrollment process?
Will my child go to the same school for preschool, prekindergarten and kindergarten?
Enrollment in Osseo Area Schools’ preschool and prekindergarten programs does not automatically transfer to kindergarten. Parents/guardians will need to complete kindergarten enrollment for their child. Learn about how to enroll your child in kindergarten on the district website osseoschools.org/enroll.
Exceptions include:
1). Students who are enrolled in the district’s Tuition Free Prekindergarten program (they are promoted to their attendance area school for kindergarten).
2). At Birch Grove School for the Arts (a magnet school through Northwest Suburban Integration School District (NWSISD) students enrolled in Tuition Free Prekindergarten or Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) will be promoted to kindergarten. If their home school offers an ECSE program, parents/guardians can choose for their child to attend there or continue at Birch Grove.
3). Students receiving special education services will be contacted by their case manager if the assigned school is not their area school of attendance.
Learn more about Prekindergarten for Fours
- Prekindergarten for Fours
- Materials and resources
- Contact us
- Early Childhood Parent Teacher Organization (ECPTO)
Prekindergarten for Fours
The Early Childhood Family Education (EC&FE) Prekindergarten for Fours program is designed for children who turn four years old on or before Sept. 1, 2026. Prekindergarten for Fours offers a supportive and engaging environment where your child can grow, learn, and prepare for kindergarten. Experienced, licensed teachers provide a nurturing space for children to build confidence, independence, and essential academic and social skills. The curriculum is thoughtfully designed to meet children where they are developmentally while encouraging exploration, creativity, and growth.
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Group Time: Interactive songs, stories, and games encourage social interaction and a sense of community.
- Active Play: Time in the gym or on the playground helps develop gross motor skills and promotes healthy, active habits.
- Discovery Time: Hands-on activities like art, math, science experiments, sensory exploration, and pretend play spark curiosity and creativity.
- Book Time: Engaging with books fosters a love for reading and storytelling while building literacy skills.
Locations:
Arbor View Early Childhood Center
Willow Lane Early Childhood Center
Basswood Elementary School
Cedar Island Elementary School
Fernbrook Elementary School
Oak View Elementary School
Rice Lake Elementary School
Materials and resources
Contact us

Early Childhood & Family Education (EC&FE)
Arbor View Early Childhood Center
9401 Fernbrook Ln. N.
Maple Grove, MN 55369
Phone: 763-391-8777
Email: ecfe@district279.org
Office hours:
Monday-Friday
8 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Early Childhood & Family Education (EC&FE)
Willow Lane Early Childhood Center
7020 Perry Ave., N.
Brooklyn Center, MN 55429
Phone: 763-585-7330
Email: ecfe@district279.org
Office hours:
Monday-Friday
8 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Early Childhood Parent Teacher Organization (ECPTO)
Whether you are brand new to the ECFE programs or have been participating for a while, ECPTO is a welcoming community where we connect with other families, collaborate on fun events, and help make our programs (Preschool, PreK, and ECFE) even better for young learners. Every voice matters here, and your involvement truly makes a difference!
School year 2026-27 meeting dates will be posted when available. Check back in early August for updates.
To learn more about the ECPTO visit the ECPTO WEBSITE email infoECPTO@gmail.com or call 763-391-8777.
