The PFA/PFAE program is for children ages 3 through 5 who are not age eligible for kindergarten (i.e., age 5 on or before September 1 of the school year in which the early childhood program is to be implemented) and who are determined to be eligible by multiple weighted at-risk factors. Eligibility requirements are based on local need to identify children at risk of academic failure. At-risk children are those who, because of their home and community environment, are subject to such language, cultural, economic, and like disadvantages to be at risk of academic failure.

The program is designed for children who reside in the District 156 attendance area as well as its surrounding areas. The PFA/PFAE program does not require district residency. A district may collaborate with neighboring districts to fill its PFA/PFAE slots with PFA/PFAE-eligible children. All children who attend a state-funded Illinois PFA/PFAE program must live in Illinois and be eligible to attend Illinois public schools. A child who lives in a bordering state is not eligible to attend an Illinois PFA program even if their parent travels into the state daily for work. 

The curriculum that we use in our Early Childhood Classrooms is called the "Creative Curriculum for Preschool." The goal of our program is to develop each child’s important preacademic readiness skills that are needed for success in kindergarten. Our curriculum addresses social/emotional, language, problem solving and physical development. These four areas are closely related and often overlap.

Children enrolled in the program were screened by the district's preschool screening team and identified as having potential academic and/or social challenges. District 156 believes in providing developmentally appropriate experiences for preschool children and their families. The goal of our program is to meet the developmental needs of children in a safe and nurturing environment, while promoting educational success. We believe in encouraging the process of growth through active learning which utilizes the natural motivations, abilities, and interests of children. 

For the 2016-17 school year, Lincoln Elementary School was one of the few schools in the state to receive the Preschool for All Expansion Grant which allowed us to offer 4 and 5 year old students the opportunity to be a part of a full day preschool classroom.  The grant was continued into the 2017-18 school year.  The goal of Lincoln’s Preschool Program is to meet the developmental needs of children, including children with special needs, in a safe and nurturing environment that fosters multiculturalism and respect, while promoting educational success. We believe in encouraging the process of growth through active learning which utilizes the natural motivations, abilities, and interests of children.  We also offer 2 half-day programs, one of which is a bilingual classroom.  

The Preschool teachers use the Creative Curriculum as the framework for the preschool program. We provide a variety of active and quiet centers where a child can make choices, create, and interact with peers and their environment. The materials used provide concrete hands-on experiences, and are adaptable to the many different levels of development. The teachers also develop thematic units that complement the children's interests, cultures and community. These units are aligned with Illinois Early Learning and Development Standards (IELDS). The Illinois Early Learning and Development Standards can be accessed at:

English: https://www.isbe.net/documents/early_learning_standards.pdf

Spanish: http://illinoisearlylearning.org/ields/ields-sp.pdf

The Pre-Kindergarten students are evaluated regularly throughout the school year using work samples and classroom observations. All assessments are based on the Illinois Early Learning and Development Standards and are shared with parents during Parent/Teacher Conferences.

You will also notice that we do not use worksheets, ditto/tracing sheets or coloring sheets in our classrooms. Children learn best through appropriate hands-on experiences and interactions with others. Playing and talking with friends enhances a child’s whole development. Opportunities to think and act creatively are essential if children are to develop their minds to the fullest potential. Children need to be involved with many meaningful problem-solving situations, rather than sitting passively while filling in worksheets.

Lincoln ESD 156 understands family makeup varies widely and can include parents, stepparents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, and others living in the household. Families also come from a variety of cultural backgrounds and have a variety of values and traditions. 

At Lincoln, there are numerous and varied ways to effectively engage family members in their child’s preschool experience, from asking them to help out at the school to allowing them to take an active role in decision-making processes. 

Parent Education

There are many opportunities to attend professional development at Lincoln, which provides a rich mix of information about issues of critical importance to parents.  Workshops such as parenting skills, student and family health, education classes for parents, Family Reading and Math programs to name a few.  We also have a yearly conference for parents at the Superintendents’ Commission for the Study of Demographics and Diversity, which offers a variety of workshops and includes breakfast, lunch, childcare and transportation.  All of these opportunities are free to parents.

Child Learning

At Lincoln, there are many opportunities to be involved in your child’s education.  We have Parent/Child Craft Days where each child invites a guest to make a craft with them.  You are also encouraged to participate/volunteer in activities or help with classroom needs, go on field trips at no cost to you to partake in educational experiences outside of school.  You are also encouraged to assist assemblies for your child.  We celebrate the Week of the Young Child and you are encouraged to attend daily activities that revolved around a theme.  We also have a Lending Library where parents are encouraged to borrow books and educational games that will allow parents to work with their students at home.

Involvement

Parents are also encouraged to attend PTA and other school events and volunteer opportunities.  For example, a group of parents decorated the preschool hallway to encourage attendance.  

Decision Making and Advocacy

At the beginning of the year, parents are given a survey in Spanish or English to develop a needs assessment.  During the school year, parents are encouraged to complete the 5Essentials survey for the district.  Parents meet with teachers at least twice a year during Parent/Teacher Conferences however, teachers are available to meet with parents as needed.  During Parent/Teacher Conferences, data is shared with parents regarding their child’s development as well as activities that parents can do at home to help develop support the teacher.   Parents are invited to Title I Parent meetings, which meet twice a year, and there is a preschool parent represented in the Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee (BPAC), which meets once a month.  We have also developed an Early Childhood Education Parent Advisory Committee (ECE PAC) that meets bi-monthly. 

Our goal is to meet these four principles:

·      Develop system that support family engagement

·      Build welcoming and supportive environments

·      Enhance communication with parents

·      Include parents in decision making

Early Childhood Education Parent Advisory Committee (ECE PAC)

The Early Childhood Education Parent Advisory Committee (ECE PAC), which consists of preschool parents, community members and Lincoln staff.

The EC PAC will assist Lincoln ESD 156 with program and activities for children and their families. We will collaborate in the decision-making that affects the preschool program and make substantial suggestions regarding program policies and/or procedures.

This is a wonderful opportunity for you to become a leader in your child’s school and community as well as contribute to the vision and mission of Lincoln ESD 156. Please see Mrs. Evans.

More information about Parent Involvement, click on Lincoln's Parent University website