early childhood (birth through 5-years-old)
Early Childhood Screening
If you have concerns about the development of a young child, birth through five-years-old, you can make a referral for them to be evaluated. Referrals can be made online through Help Me Grow and are then passed on to your local school district to conduct the evaluation of the child's development. If a child is found to have developmental delays, they may be able to receive special Early Intervention or Early Childhood Special Education services to support their healthy development.
Early Head Start and Head Start
Early Head Start serves children 6 weeks through 2-years of age and their caregiver(s). Regular Head Start serves children who are 3- to 5-years-old. Early Head Start and Head Start programs have income guidelines and prioritize foster children with high risk factors or who have special needs. These programs are administered through local agencies throughout the state of Minnesota. Below are links to several agencies offering Head Start programs; if none are close to you, you can ask around in your community to find the program that serves your area.
Parents in Community Action (PICA) runs Early Head Start and Head Start programs serving Hennepin County. The Early Head Start offers childcare for infants and toddlers. The 3- to 5-year-old Head Start program offers preschool programming to help children prepare for kindergarten.
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Community Action Partnership of Ramsey & Washington Counties runs Early Head Start and Head Start programs serving Ramsey County. The Early Head Start offers home visits and childcare for infants and toddlers. The 3- to 5-year-old Head Start program offers preschool programming to help children prepare for kindergarten.
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Community Action Partnership of Scott, Carver & Dakota Counties runs Early Head Start and Head Start programs serving Scott, Carver and Dakota Counties. The Early Head Start offers home visits for infants and toddlers. The 3- to 5-year-old Head Start program offers preschool programming to help children prepare for kindergarten.
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Lakes and Pines Community Action Council runs Early Head Start and Head Start programs serving Aitkin, Carlton, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs and Pine Counties. The Early Head Start offers home visits for infants and toddlers. The 3- to 5-year-old Head Start program offers home visits and preschool programming to help children prepare for kindergarten.
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Mahube-Otwa Community Action Partnership runs Early Head Start and Head Start programs serving Becker, Hubbard and Mahnomen Counties. The Early Head Start offers home visits for infants and toddlers. The 3- to 5-year-old Head Start program offers home visits and preschool programming to help children prepare for kindergarten.
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Several of the Minnesota tribes also offer Tribal Early Head Start and Tribal Head Start programs serving children living on their reservations:
Leech Lake -- Tribal Early Head Start and/or Tribal Head Start
Fond du Lac -- Tribal Early Head Start and/or Tribal Head Start
Boise Fort -- Tribal Early Head Start and/or Tribal Head Start
Mille Lacs -- Tribal Early Head Start and/or Tribal Head Start
Red Lake -- Tribal Head Start
White Earth -- Tribal Early Head Start and/or Tribal Head Start
Lower Sioux -- Tribal Early Head Start and/or Tribal Head Start
Leech Lake -- Tribal Early Head Start and/or Tribal Head Start
Fond du Lac -- Tribal Early Head Start and/or Tribal Head Start
Boise Fort -- Tribal Early Head Start and/or Tribal Head Start
Mille Lacs -- Tribal Early Head Start and/or Tribal Head Start
Red Lake -- Tribal Head Start
White Earth -- Tribal Early Head Start and/or Tribal Head Start
Lower Sioux -- Tribal Early Head Start and/or Tribal Head Start
School District Preschool Programs
Many school districts offer school readiness preschool programs. These programs may vary in terms of length (half day or full day) as well as how much families may be expected to pay for their children to attend. Check with your local school district to learn about the programming available in your area. Below are the links to some district preschool programs; if your district isn't included below you can check with them to see if they have a preschool program.
Minneapolis Public Schools has preschool programs for 3- and 4-year-old children. Programs for 3-year-olds are half-day and programs for 4-year-olds have both half-day and full-day options. There is a sliding scale fee structure for these preschool programs.
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Saint Paul Public Schools has a preschool program for 4-year-old children. Both half-day and full-day programs are offered, depending on the school site attended.
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Bloomington Public Schools has preschool programs for 3- and 4-year-old children. Programs for 3-year-olds are 2-3 days per week. Programs for 4-year-olds are half-days, 5 days a week. Both programs have fees.
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The Saint Cloud Area School District has preschool programs for 3- and 4-year-old children. The programs are half-day programs that run 2-4 days per week. There are monthly fees, but also scholarships are available.
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Cambridge Isanti School District has preschool programs for 3- and 4-year-old children. The programs are half-day programs that run 2-3 days per week. There are fees associated with the program.
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Fridley Public Schools has preschool programs for 3- and 4-year-old children. Both programs for 3-year-olds and programs for 4-year-olds are half-days. There is a sliding scale fee structure for these preschool programs.
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Early Childhood Family Education
Many school districts offer Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) programs. These programs are for caregivers and their young children to learn and interact together. Most programs have in-person classes where the caregivers and children both attend, some offer online classes, and some have the option of home visits as well. There is a sliding scale fee for these activities. Below are the links to some district ECFE programs; if your district isn't included below you can check with them to see if they have an ECFE program.
kindergarten through high school
Indian Education
Many Minnesota school districts have Indian Education programs. These programs may offer American Indian students enrolled in district schools such services as academic tutoring, cultural classes, academic award recognitions, and community events such as pow wows or language tables. Below are the links to some district Indian Education programs; if your district isn't included below you can check with them to see if they have an Indian Education program.
Community Agencies
Many community agencies offer after-school and summer programs for school-aged youth. You can check out the agencies featured below or look ask around your local community to find out what other resources may be there.
Migizi Communications is a Minneapolis offers after school and summer educational opportunities for teenagers and young adults. Science, technology, and creative storytelling are key features of much of their programming.
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The Minneapolis American Indian Center has after-school and evening programming for youth. Ginew/Golden Eagles is an after school program for youth ages 5- to 18-years-old. Prevention Through Cultural Awareness is a weekly evening program for youth ages 8- to 18-years-old.
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The Division of Indian Works in Minneapolis offers a variety of programs for youth and families. Supports include homework help, tutoring, drug/alcohol prevention, cultural activities, and a summer learning program.
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American Indian Family Center in Saint Paul has culturally-specific programming for youth. They offer homework help, leadership skills, gardening, and more.
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The Division of Indian Works in Saint Paul offers both after school (grades 1-5) and summer (grades 1-8) programming for youth. The focus is on developing cultural skills and identity through a variety of lessons, field trips, and events.
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The Ho-Chunk Youth Services Division in Saint Paul offers a variety of activities for youth, such as cultural arts/crafts, sports, and language classes.
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Public Libraries
Public libraries are good resources for learning. Libraries have books, music, movies and more that can be borrowed. They also have computers with internet access that can be used to do such things as conduct research, access learning websites that schools provide, check student grades online (for school districts that have online parent portals), and email teachers. Below are websites for some library systems; if none of them are close to you, stop in at your local library to find out what they offer.
The Hennepin County Public Library system offers free online tutoring and homework help daily from 1-11pm. Libraries also offer in-person tutoring on select afternoons/evenings--check the schedule online to find out when these sessions are.
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The Saint Paul Public Library system offers free "Homework Centers" students can attend throughout the week. Check the schedule online to find when different library branches offer this homework help.
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The Dakota County Library system offers both online and in-person homework help and tutoring. Check the schedule online to find when different library branches offer in-person homework help.
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Special Education
Some children and youth in foster care have a hard time learning in school. They may have or need an Individualized Education Program (IEP) to receive special education services that help them meet their learning goals.
The Pacer Center offers parents and other caregivers training and advocacy support around the special education process and how to meet the needs of children and youth with different kinds of disabilities. They have free training sessions to caregivers about topics such as understanding special education laws, how to communicate with their child's school, how to handle challenging children's behaviors, what kinds of technology can help students with disabilities, and helping young people with disabilities get and keep a job. Parent advocates are available for talking through challenging situations that are occuring at a child's school and can attend special education meetings with you.