Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE)

Welcome, Stillwater Families!

Whether you’re new to the Stillwater School District or have a little one who will be starting school in the future, we’re glad you’re here! There are two important steps for families with young children: completing your family’s district census and scheduling Early Childhood Screening.

1. Make sure your family is on the district census

If you live within the Stillwater School District boundaries, please make sure your household is included in our district census—even if your child is not yet school-aged.

We ask all families to keep their information up to date, including families with:

• Newborns and preschool-age children
• Children who attend Stillwater Area Public Schools
• Children who are homeschooled
• Children who attend a non-public school

Keeping our census information current helps us plan for the future, including enrollment, programs, staffing, and classroom space.

Ready to get started? Please complete the census form [HERE]. Then scroll down to “Census for Families New to the District” and select the red “Fill Out the Census” button.

2. Schedule your child’s Early Childhood Screening

Early Childhood Screening is a free, simple way to check in on how your child is growing, developing, and learning. It’s a great opportunity to celebrate what your child is doing well and identify any areas where additional support may be helpful.

Minnesota law requires children to complete Early Childhood Screening between the ages of 3 and 5, and around age 3½ is an ideal time to complete it. This gives families plenty of time to address any health or developmental concerns before kindergarten.

Every child attending school in Minnesota needs an Early Childhood Screening record before entering kindergarten. Children enrolled in our preschool programs must also complete screening within the first 90 days of the school year.

Screening is not a kindergarten readiness test, and it doesn’t need to wait until your child is getting ready for kindergarten. During the screening, your child will participate in fun, age-appropriate activities with a trained professional who will look at important developmental milestones.

Your child’s screening will include:

• Vision and hearing
• Height and weight
• Immunizations
• Large and small motor skills
• Thinking, language, and communication skills

Have questions?

We’re happy to help! If you’re unsure whether your child needs a screening or need help getting started with the district census, please reach out. We’re here to make this process easy for your family.