Preschool Programs

Our Early Learning Center supports all children as members of our school community, helping them feel a sense of belonging, to establish positive relationships, and to develop to their full potential. Our goal is to provide each child with an enthusiasm towards learning, and a safe and nurturing environment while developing skills.

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The Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) is a comprehensive preschool program that provides free services and support to eligible children and their families. Funded by Washington State, ECEAP helps children and families get ready for kindergarten and is free to enrolled families. It serves three and four year-old children from low-income families, and children with developmental or environmental risk factors that could interfere with school success.

ECEAP programs are offered through the ESD 123, and you can learn more about these programs and apply by visiting the ESD 123 ECEAP website or completing the 2023-24 ECEAP Interest Contact Form.

Head Start is a program that provides comprehensive early childhood education, health, nutrition, and parent involvement services to low-income children and families. The program's services and resources are designed to foster stable family relationships, enhance children's physical and emotional well-being, and establish an environment to develop strong cognitive skills.

The Head Start program is offered through Benton Franklin Head Start, and you can learn more about this program by completing visiting the Benton Franklin Head Start website or completing their online inquiry form.

Inspire Development Centers are a private nonprofit organization who provide early learning education programs such as ECEAP, Regional Head Start, Early Head Start, Migrant Head Start, and Migrant Early Head Start.

For more information, contact 509-547-7882 or visit the Inspire Development Centers website.

Transition to Kindergarten (TK) is a legislatively established and authorized program for children who are at least 4-years-old by August 31 and have been identified through a screening process to be in need of additional preparation to be successful kindergarten students in the following school year.  

Locations

• Chess Elementary School
• Angelou Elementary School
• Markham Elementary School 

Benefits 

• Free, full-day program at Chess, Angelou, and Markham Elementary Schools.
• Early introduction and easy transition into kindergarten in a small classroom setting with up to 15 students
• Opportunity to grow academically, socially and emotionally in an environment that is the perfect balance of fun and education
• Students gain confidence and self-control
• High-quality education from a certificated teacher and paraeducator support
• Participation in physical education, library, music and technology classes
• Free bus transportation and meals (breakfast, lunch, snacks)
• Students ready to attend their boundary school when they enter kindergarten in the fall

The Transitional Kindergarten program meets the requirements of full-day kindergarten established in RCW 28A.150.315, including administration of the WaKIDS whole-child assessment, within the first 10 weeks. 

Child Find is a process designed to locate children, birth through age 21, with a suspected disability to evaluate and identify a need for special education and related services. 

Pasco School District conducts specific activities for the purposes of locating, evaluating and identifying students ages birth to twenty-one with suspected disabilities and who reside within the district’s boundaries. This includes students attending private schools.

Approximately ten to fifteen percent of all children have a disability which hinders their educational development. Early identification of disabilities assists parents, students and schools in the design of appropriate educational services.

Make a Preschool Child Find Referral - English

Make a Preschool Child Find Referral - Spanish

The Children’s Developmental Center provides Early Intervention services to infants and toddlers (birth to 3 years old) with developmental delays or disabilities who live in Pasco. They provide the following services for families:

• social-emotional
• communication
• motor
• cognitive
• self-help

Parents, families, childcare providers, and medical providers with a concern about a child’s development may make a referral by visiting the Children’s Developmental Center or calling 509-735-1062 for assistance.

Pasco School District offers support for children ages 3 to 5 years who have special needs and live within the school district boundaries.  Children need to qualify through the special education evaluation process in order to be eligible for these services.  

Screenings are provided for possible developmental delays in the areas of:

• adaptive (self-help skills)
• cognitive (learning and pre-academic skills)
• speech and language
• fine and gross motor
• social emotional/behavior

Parents, families, childcare providers, preschools, and medical providers with a concern about a child’s (3 to 5 years old) development may make a referral by contacting the Early Learning Center at 509-416-7119 or submitting a Child Find referral.  Families living in a temporary situation, may contact the district where they are currently staying for a screening.

Parents are a child’s first and most influential teacher! READY for Kindergarten workshops are for parents of children starting at birth until their child enters kindergarten. The workshops teach families skills and helpful tips to nurture their child’s development in literacy, math, and social-emotional skills by playing with a purpose. 

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Parents and early learning providers can access information about developmental milestones, resources, and research to support their child’s development during the early years. 

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Looking for childcare? ChildCare Aware of Eastern Washington is a free service that offers information on finding quality childcare, getting help to pay for childcare and resources for families.

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Skills such as taking a first step, smiling for the first time, and waving “bye bye” are called developmental milestones. Children reach milestones in how they play, learn, speak, act, and move. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides milestones and parent tips for children 2 months to 5 years old.

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