Screening is a quick, no-cost check to identify possible health or developmental concerns in young children. Screening in early childhood supports children's learning and promotes health and development. Screening may link families to free early learning opportunities and resources such as Head Start, Early Childhood Family Education, prekindergarten programs, Early Childhood Special Education, Early Learning Scholarships, home visiting programs, or other resources. 

The Early Childhood Screening program includes vision and hearing, height and weight, risk factors which may impact learning, large and small muscles, thinking, language and speaking skills as well as parent report of social emotional development, and a parent summary meeting. Early Childhood Screening (ECS) by a school district or evidence of a comparable screening by a non-school provider is required for entrance in Minnesota’s public schools.

Watch this video from MDE if you have further questions about early childhood screening. 

Screening dates for the 2025-2026 school year are listed below. Please call the elementary office at 507-545-2632 to schedule your child's screening. 

October 13
October 14
November 4
January 20