Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) is a program for all Minnesota families with children between the ages of birth to third grade. ECFE
is based on the idea that the family provides a child’s first and most significant learning environment and parents are a child’s first and most important teachers. The goal of ECFE is to enhance the ability of all parents to provide the best possible environment for their child’s
learning and growth.
HOW ARE CLASSES AND ACTIVITIES OFFERED?
ECFE classes are Parent & Child classes which include three components. Parent and child interaction time focuses on activities and learning together. Children’s programming is taught by a licensed early childhood educator and focuses on age appropriate activities for your child. Parent discussion time is led by a licensed parent educator and centers on a specific topic related to your child and their developmental stage. Interaction with other parents in an informal group discussion takes place in the parent education room for separating classes and in another area of the same room for non-separating classes.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF ECFE?
The program encourages positive parental interactions that affect how children develop and learn. Research has shown that ECFE programs involving parents with their children are more effective than programs focusing exclusively on children. ECFE also offers a toy lending library and resources on parenting and child development.
MN Statute 124D.13 states that ECFE Programs should emphasize programming for a child from birth to age three. Programming and services that are tailored to the needs of families and parents with children with the most risk factors in that age group. Due to a pre-k-3rd grade initiative ECFE can offer classes for children up to 3rd grade, but please note that the focus of the programming is for the birth to three age group. Also, as residents & taxpayers,
Minnesota residents receive priority in enrollment; out of district or Wisconsin residents may enroll on a space avail-
able basis AFTER the initial enrollment process is complete.