Early Childhood Education Center

Welcome to a new program year.  It is always exciting to meet with you again and hear about the growth and development of your child.  We look forward to visiting you in your home.  If you ever need to meet at the Early Childhood Education Center or a mutually agreed upon public location (such as a park) that is always available to you.  Many articles in educational journals point out the importance of a partnership with school and community for children to experience lasting success.  We are very fortunate in our District to begin this partnership early in the child’s life.  The partnerships that we have formed are based on a respect for each other’s value in helping each child to be successful in school.

Out of privacy, please do not post any pictures taken in the home or at a Group Connection on social media unless the picture is ONLY of your child/family. 

Prenatal to Kindergarten Parents as Teachers Program

This program offers four main components:

• Personal Visits:  Through Parents as Teachers, you will partner with a Parent Educator focused on your child’s healthy growth and development.  Your Parent Educator will personalize information to fit with your family’s needs, concerns, and hopes.  Together you will discuss goals for your family.  You will build on your strengths and skills and share what you see your child doing.  Your parent educator will help connect those behaviors and actions to what is happening in their development.  As a parent you are building a healthy, nurturing environment for your child.  Your Parent Educator is there to broaden your knowledge as you make decisions for your family.
• Developmental and Health Screenings:  Your child, ages 4 months to 3 years in your home, will be screened in developmental skills, basic vision and hearing, and language within the first several visits.  Children over 3 years will need to contact the Early Childhood Education Center at 636-462-3020 to schedule a screening.  These screenings will give you insight into your child’s development, according to standardized measures.  Screenings help parents identify areas of difficulty for their child early on.  This allows the parent to provide activities to build skills in a weak area or seek professional help if necessary.    
• Referral Networking:  Referrals are given to link parents to services needed.
• Group Connections:  Group connections are designed so that families build social connections with each other, engage in parent-child interaction, and increase their knowledge of ways to support children’s development.  There are incentives for your participation.  

Vision Statement:

The Lincoln County R-III Early Childhood Education Center strives to be a leader in 

parent education and child development.  

Mission Statement:

The Lincoln County R-III Parents as Teachers program strengthens the family unit by providing support and education through meaningful parent/child involvement.

Lincoln County R-III Parents as Teachers

During the past four decades, educators have increasingly turned their attention to research practices that affect young children.  This has been the same for the Lincoln County R-III School District.  Many programs have been developed that address the significant learning that

takes place from birth to five years of age.

The Lincoln County R-III PAT Program is based on four guiding principles.

1.  Parents are vital to the education of their children.

2.  Every effort will be made to offer all children, birth to school age, and their families a full

     continuum of early childhood services that are appropriate for their child.

3.  The early childhood program will form partnerships with other community agencies and

     services available for children birth to school entry.

4.  A long-lasting partnership will be formed between parents and the school district as each

     focuses on the education of the child.

Child Abuse/Neglect Policies and Procedures

The law mandates the entire Parents as Teachers staff to report any suspected case of child abuse and/or sexual abuse or neglect.  Typically, but not necessarily, a conversation will be held with the parents when something is out of the ordinary or we suspect abuse and/or neglect. 

After that conversation with the parent/caregiver, if the staff feels that a call to the Child Abuse/Neglect Hotline is necessary, this call will be made and documented by our staff.  The Director is notified prior to the “hotline call.”  This call is made by one staff and witnessed by

another.  Detailed case notes are to be written describing the incident/injury with the date, time, and staff’s name included.  

Pandemic Planning

The District acknowledges the ever-changing needs of the county, country, and world as pandemics occur.  Information and guidelines will be established to address given pandemic situations as they arise.  Specific communications will be sent to families in the event of a need for pandemic procedures.

Please be aware services may be provided virtually if deemed necessary.

Early Childhood Education Center

Mrs. Michelle King, Principal

1601 S Main St.  Troy, MO  63379

Phone: 636-462-3020    Fax:  636-462-3021

A free developmental screening is offered to all children aged four months to five years. This screening examines all areas of development. The children will also have an opportunity to be screened for vision and hearing. The entire process, which includes screening and a parent conference, takes approximately one hour. The Lincoln County R-III School District recommends that every child be screened each year prior to kindergarten entry. Children can only be screened once per school year. 

Helpful Information about screening 

• Parents may decide whether or not they wish to observe the screening. Some children will have a better screening if their parents are present, while others will have a better screening if they are alone with the screener. Since it would not be a good screening environment for additional children to be in the screening room, please make other arrangements for your other children. 
• The screeners have received special training on screening all age groups. Information will be shared with the parent at the time of the screening, or a conference will be held at a later date to help the parent have an understanding of ways to encourage the child’s development. 
• If the screening results indicate that some help is needed in an area of development, the screener will work with you to explore ideas for activities or referral options from which you can choose. The school district provides special education for children aged three to five years who meet Missouri eligibility criteria for significant developmental delays at no charge to the parent. 

Scheduling a Screening 

Screenings are a great tool to help you understand your child’s development! 

• Screening for four months to three years will take place in your home by your Parent Educator.
• Screenings for three to five years will take place at the Early Childhood Education Center.
• To make an appointment to have your child screened, please call the Early Childhood Education Center at 636-462-3020
• Choose a time that is good for your child and your family. Screenings will be available at a variety of times, including evenings. 
• To make the screening as positive as possible 
  • Arrive a few minutes before the appointment to acquaint your child with the screening process. 
  • Have your child well-rested 
  • Have your child wear tennis shoes or rubber-soled shoes
• Screenings will also be performed at all local preschools. Watch for a note to come home with your child.

Lincoln County R-III Tution Based Preschool Programs 

We offer several preschool programs designed to meet our families’ needs.  Our preschool programs follow the school year of the Lincoln County R-III School District.  The programs are designed to provide a variety of learning and social experiences utilizing hands-on activities.  A developmentally-appropriate

curriculum recommended for early childhood is used.  All teachers in our preschool programs are certified with a teaching degree. 

Early Childhood Education Center, Half Day

Our half-day preschool programs are for families with children who are at least three years of age prior to their first day of class.  All classes are multi-age, and children may attend two, three or five half days a week.   The cost is $15/day.  Class times are 9:00 am-12:00 pm or 1:00 pm-4:00 pm.  A $100 non

A refundable enrollment fee is required at the time of enrollment. 

Early Childhood Education Center, T, Th Full Day or MWF Full Day

Full-day preschool programming is also available for 4- to 5-year-olds.  The child must be eligible to attend Kindergarten the following year to attend the full-day program.  The child may attend on  T, Th, or M, W, F ONLY.  The cost is $30/day.  The full-day program is 9:00 am– 4:00 pm.  You may

pack a lunch for your child, or you may purchase lunch from the cafeteria for a fee.  A $100 non-refundable enrollment fee is required at enrollment.  Latchkey is available from 6:30 am to 9:00 am and 4:00 pm to 5:15 pm for an additional fee.

Main Street Elementary, Troy South Elementary, Claude Brown Elementary, 5 Full Days

The child must be eligible to attend Kindergarten the following year to attend the full day program.  The cost is $30/day.  The program times are from 9:10 am to 4:10 pm.  You can pack a lunch for your child or you may purchase lunch from the cafeteria for a fee.  A $100 non-refundable An

enrollment fee is required at enrollment.   Latchkey is available from 6 am-9:10 am and 4:10 pm-6 pm for an additional fee.

Main Street Elementary, Troy South Elementary, Claude Brown Elementary, Free Preschool

This preschool program is offered FREE to any child who meets two qualifications:

1. The child will be attending Kindergarten the following year.
2. The family qualifies for the Free/Reduced lunch program through the school district. It is mandatory that children attend all day 5 days a week and follow the school district calendar. There is no Latchkey available for the FREE program.  Enrollment will take place in July.  If you are interested, please ask your Parent Educator for more information.