About Early Childhood at the Haines Center

Overview

Through Early Childhood at the Haines Center, District 303 offers a five-day-a-week, 1⁄2 day, morning or afternoon preschool program. The program will be open to children who reside within the D303 school boundaries and who are 3-5 years old and are not eligible for Kindergarten.

Our blended, inclusive classrooms provide experiences for young children who are typically developing, have identified disabilities, and are eligible for Preschool for All. 

• D303 Community Preschool- Fee-based program that serves children who are progressing at a rate typical for their age. 

• Early Childhood Special Education- The Early Childhood Special Education program serves children determined to be eligible for services through an evaluation process and IEP. These children are experiencing difficulty in one or more areas and have been identified as having a disability.

• Preschool for All - (ISBE Grant)- Preschool for All serves children who are screened and identified as not progressing at a rate anticipated for potential success in kindergarten due to one or more at-risk variables. At-risk factors can include delays identified on screening instruments in the area of intellectual processing, academics, speech/communication, social-emotional development, and/or motor development. In addition, family environmental factors such as low income, homeless, parent/sibling with disability, parent education level, family structure, non-English speaking household, and others are also considered when identifying at-risk eligibility.

Please Note: Students do not need to be toilet trained to attend the program. Transportation is ONLY available for students in Preschool for All and Special Education programs. Parents/caregivers of students without identified needs will provide transportation to and from school daily.

Our Early Childhood team provides our youngest learners with opportunities to engage in learning and play in an accepting and engaging learning environment. The program is designed to serve the needs of all children utilizing a developmentally-appropriate approach to instruction. The use of consistent schedules provides our students with a balance of experiences, including large & small group activities, indoor & outdoor play, and teacher directed & self-directed learning opportunities.

The purpose of our program is to assist families in meeting the developmental needs of our learners, to promote their educational and social-emotional growth, and to provide a safe, secure, and nurturing classroom environment. 

The program emphasizes the process of growth through active, hands on experiences. Further, the program provides high quality enrichment experiences for our students, as well as activities and educational opportunities for parents and families throughout the year.

Our D303 Early Childhood Program offers free developmental screening for children between the ages of 3-5.

Developmental Screening Information