The PFA/PFAE program is for children ages 3 through 5 who are not age eligible for kindergarten (i.e., age 5 on or before September 1 of the school year in which the early childhood program is to be implemented) and who are determined to be eligible by multiple weighted at-risk factors. Eligibility requirements are based on local need to identify children at risk of academic failure. At-risk children are those who, because of their home and community environment, are subject to such language, cultural, economic, and like disadvantages to be at risk of academic failure.
The program is designed for children who reside in the District 156 attendance area as well as its surrounding areas. The PFA/PFAE program does not require district residency. A district may collaborate with neighboring districts to fill its PFA/PFAE slots with PFA/PFAE-eligible children. All children who attend a state-funded Illinois PFA/PFAE program must live in Illinois and be eligible to attend Illinois public schools. A child who lives in a bordering state is not eligible to attend an Illinois PFA program even if their parent travels into the state daily for work.
The curriculum that we use in our Early Childhood Classrooms is called the "Creative Curriculum for Preschool." The goal of our program is to develop each child’s important preacademic readiness skills that are needed for success in kindergarten. Our curriculum addresses social/emotional, language, problem solving and physical development. These four areas are closely related and often overlap.
Children enrolled in the program were screened by the district's preschool screening team and identified as having potential academic and/or social challenges. District 156 believes in providing developmentally appropriate experiences for preschool children and their families. The goal of our program is to meet the developmental needs of children in a safe and nurturing environment, while promoting educational success. We believe in encouraging the process of growth through active learning which utilizes the natural motivations, abilities, and interests of children.
For the 2016-17 school year, Lincoln Elementary School was one of the few schools in the state to receive the Preschool for All Expansion Grant which allowed us to offer 4 and 5 year old students the opportunity to be a part of a full day preschool classroom. The grant was continued into the 2017-18 school year. The goal of Lincoln’s Preschool Program is to meet the developmental needs of children, including children with special needs, in a safe and nurturing environment that fosters multiculturalism and respect, while promoting educational success. We believe in encouraging the process of growth through active learning which utilizes the natural motivations, abilities, and interests of children. We also offer 2 half-day programs, one of which is a bilingual classroom.