Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE)

Early Childhood Family Education 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.

Immunization Form

Fall 2024
ECFE Newsletter

Fall 2024

Winter/Spring 2025 Programs

Updated Jan. 13, 2025. Quarter 3 runs Jan. 27 through April 3. Quarter 4 runs April 7 through June 5, 2025.

Non-Separating Classes

A non-separating class means you and your child will remain together for the entire class. Each class offers the ECFE experience, including parent and child time (PACT). These classes may also include a parent discussion in the same room as your child.

Baby & Me

Join the class at any time; babies and parents are always welcome! Babies bring joy and big changes to families. This is a weekly class for infants, birth to 12 months, and their parents. All of your baby questions and insights will be discussed with a Licensed Parent Educator and other parents of little ones. There are many opportunities to connect with other parents and find your parenting style as part of our time together. Your baby will enjoy being around other infants and you will learn the traditional ECFE circle time songs as well.

Sibling care is available upon request at registration.

When: Wednesday afternoons, 12-1:30 p.m.
Where: Parent Education Room 103

Tuesday Mornings - Monthly Themes

Puppets & Play (Tuesdays in February): Dive into the magical world of puppets! Together with your child, create simple puppets, enjoy interactive storytelling and develop communication skills through imaginative play. This class fosters creativity and strengthens parent-child connections.

Nature Explorers (Tuesdays in March): Explore the wonders of the natural world! Through hands-on activities like rock painting, nature walks, and sensory discovery, you and your child will learn to observe and connect with the environment while building curiosity and outdoor skills.

Tiny Chefs: Cooking Together (Tuesdays in April): Whisk, mix, and create delicious memories with your little one! This class introduces simple, age-appropriate recipes that encourage teammwork, early math, and sensory exploration. Perfect for budding chefs and their parents!

Sensory Adventures (Tuesdays in May): Engage your child's senses with a variety of tactile, visual and auditory activities! From messy play to interactive crafts, this class supports sensory development while providing plenty of opportunities for parent-child bonding.

Ages: Birth to 3rd Grade
When: Tuesday mornings, 8:30-10 a.m.
Where: Early Childhood Room 106
Cost: $20 per child or $30 per family for each MONTH. Fees will be due on the first day of class. Registration required.

ECFE Around Town

ECFE Around Town is an extension of our Early Childhood Family Education program for families, caregivers and children ages birth to 5 years old throughout the district. This is a program that, like our other classes, will provide you and your family with a wonderful ECFE experience that includes ideas for creative, fun, age appropriate activities, as well as time to discuss questions on kids and family. Information and ideas on child development, parenting and community resources are also available.

When: Thursday late morning, 10:30 a.m. to noon
Where: East Recreation Center and other locations TBD
Free! No registration required

Drop-in Playgroup

Drop-In Playgroup is an opportunity for children to learn, grow and develop through play. There is something to keep every child happy and busy, with a baby and toddler area, activities for preschoolers, a great outdoor space plus lots of art, craft and messy play. And what’s even better — we clean up the mess afterwards!

Ages: Birth to age 5
When: Wednesday mornings, 9-10:30 a.m.
Where: Early Childhood Room 106
Free! No registration required.

Separating Classes

A separating class means parents/caregivers spend half of the class time together with their child and half in parenting education while the child stays with an Early Childhood Teacher.

Mixed Ages & Mixed Topics (Birth to Grade 3)

Parenting is tough! Let's do it together.

Join us for a class that includes learning activities for children and parent discussion. Parent and child interaction time is an opportunity to spend uninterrupted quality time with your child. During this time we have activities created by an Early Childhood teacher based on a theme and focused on all areas of your child's development. Parent discussion is conducted in a separate space based on your needs with a focus on the Parent Education Core Curriculum Framework.

Discussions are supported by:

Research based curricula and materials such as Love and Logic, Conscious Discipline and Incredible Years
Podcasts, blogs and video channels run by today's top specialists in different areas of early childhood development.

There will be two class options:

Monday evenings, 5-7 p.m.
Wednesday evenings, 4:30-6:30 p.m.

The classes will take place in the Parent Education Room 103, and the Early Childhood Room 106.

Little Explorers (Birth to Grade 3)

Join us for a unique class designed to inspire hands-on exploration through your child's perspective. Each session begins with dedicated parent-child interaction time, allowing children and families to engage in variou slearning activities and playful exploration in the classroom. Together, you'll enjoy circle time, where music, movement, and discovery foster connection and joy.

While children continue their activities, adults move to a separate space for a tailored parenting discussion based on the Parent Education Core Curriculum Framework.

These sessions draw from research-based resources, including Love and Logic, Conscious Discipline, and Incredible Years, as well as insights from podcasts, blogs and video channels led by today's top specialists in early childhood development.

Monday mornings, 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

The classes will take place in the Parent Education Room 103, and the Early Childhood Room 106.

Music & Me (Birth to Grade 3)

Join us for a class that highlights learning and bonding through music. Class will begin with parent and child interaction time, and activities created by an Early Childhood teacher. Parents will move to a separate space for a discussion that is planned by a Licensed Parent Educator, based on your needs and supported by the latest research on parenting and early childhood development. Children will be guided through various learning activities and play in the classroom. Children will rejoin their adults for the last half hour of class. Together, we will enjoy a playful, extended circle time that includes music and movement.

When: Monday afternoons, noon to 2 p.m.
Where: Parent Education Room 103, Early Childhood Room 106

Podcast Parenting (Birth to Grade 3)

Through the exploration of various podcasts on varyin topics, parents gain confidence in their problem solving and critical thinking. This helps continue to increase parenting skills as children advance through developmental stages. The primary procedure for the teaching of this class will be through the sharing, listening and discussion of various podcasts. The teacher will share a podcast for the week for parents to listen to before class and then a discussion will be held on the podcast/topic during class. Small groups, round robins and individual discussion will also be used.

Each week, prior to the start of class, the teacher will send out an email to the parents in the class with the information about the podcast(s) that will be discussed.

Parents will be given a running list of all podcast episodes shared and discussed, along with readings, notes and handouts to keep.

This class requires time on your own outside of class.

When: Thursday mornings, 8 to 10 a.m.
Where: Parent Education Room 103, Early Childhood Room 106

Other Opportunities

Itty Bitty Book Club
WALC & WSHS Teen Parent & Prenatal Programs

Itty Bitty Book Club

Itty Bitty Book Club brings literacy and circle time activities to our Licensed Child Care Providers homes. Sign up for a monthly home visit from our Licensed Early Childhood Staff. Staff brings in activities, circle time and a fun reading program to the child care setting every month, September through May. Call 494-0920 for more information about the program. Note: The Itty Bitty Book Club Child Care Provider visits are scheduled individually and at your convenience.

WALC & WSHS Teen Parent & Prenatal Programs

Registration Information for New Families

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Click here and enter your information

Helpful hints

The grade for your child is ECFE
Make sure you click on the red submit button once registration is complete to submit
Save your Parent Portal information You can use this in the future to register and/or to pay for your class.

Registration Information for Returning Families

Log into your Campus Parent Portal Account.
Click on the 2022-2023 Annual Student info update link on the left side of the screen.
Click on the ‘Click here to go to Existing Student Info’ (button on the left side).
Verify school year 2022-23
If you do not remember your Parent Portal access or if you have questions, email: portal.help@winona.k12.mn.us or call 507-494-0820 and they will forward the access information to you.
Begin registration update; click here to begin; verify info and make any changes; then save and continue.
Click on the child's student tab. If you are adding a new child, click on new student.

ECFE Newsletter

Hello! We are Heather and Lynnea, and we are here to help

Sugar rush: Striking a balance with holiday treats

'Drink it while it's hot:' Remember to care for yourself, too

You have permission to seize your own holiday

Building reward systems that work for your family

“May We Hold Space For You Today” is a bi-monthly electronic newsletter featuring parenting tips, resources and community commonly found in Winona ECFE programs.

JOIN THE MAILING LIST

Other Information

Early Childhood Special Education

Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) services are designed for children from birth until kindergarten enrollment who have been identified with a delay in development. Evaluations and services are provided at no cost to the parents.

Early Intervention Services for children birth through age two are provided in their natural environments through the public school system. A variety of service providers which may include an early childhood special education teacher, physical therapist, occupational therapist or speech/language clinician may provide direct services or consult with your child's team based on the family and child's identified needs.
Preschool Special Education services for students age three to Kindergarten entrance are typically provided in early learning environments. Specialized services such as speech therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, developmental adaptive physical education (DAPE), early childhood special education, and busing are provided based on the student's needs within their learning environment.

If you have concerns about a child in either of these age group, please make a referral in through one of the available options listed. Someone from the district will contact you to follow up with your concerns.

Birth to Age 5 Referral Printable Form
Birth to Age 5 Referral Electronic Form
Call 507-494-0842 to make a referral by phone.

If you would like more information about early childhood development or to make a referral through the Minnesota Help Me Grow system, visit the Help Me Grow website at http://helpmegrowmn.org/HMG/index.htm .

Class Fees

How do I determine class fees?

The class fee is determined by your family income (see sliding fee schedule)
The fee is per child with a family maximum
No family will be turned away due to inability to pay
Pay for your ECFE class with a credit card OR pay in person by cash or check.
Please make checks payable to: ECFE

Family's Yearly Gross Income	Fee per child per class	Max per family per class
90,000 +	$95	$190
80,000-89,999	$81	$162
70,000 -79,999	$71	$142
60,000-69,999	$59	$118
50,000-59,999	$45	$90
40,000-49,999	$37	$74
30,000-39,999	$32	$64
20,000-29,999	$26	$52
Under 19,999	$11	$22

Early Childhood Education Programs
Goodview Elementary School
5100 West 9th Street, Winona

Video Tutorial on the Registration Process

Common Questions

What is ECFE?

How does ECFE work?

Separating Classes:
All our classes begin with parent child activities where parents and children play together in the early childhood room. Parents then move on to the Parent Education room, facilitated by a licensed parent educator, to meet other parents and discuss issues related to parenting. The children stay in the classroom with a licensed early childhood educator to enjoy a variety of age appropriate activities. Your child will make new friends, enjoy art activities, music, gym time and a snack.

Non-separating Classes:
In our baby and toddler classes, parents do not separate from their children. The baby group is held in the parent education room and the toddler group is held in the early childhood room.