The Tolleson Elementary School District Preschool Programs provide early childhood educational opportunities to both typical and special education-eligible children ages 3 - 5.

How Can Your Child Participate?

The Tolleson Elementary School District provides early childhood educational opportunities for young children, ages 3-5, who meet eligibility criteria in the following ways:

• *Qualifying disability (special education) or;
• Income eligibility (federal poverty criteria) and risk factors as determined through our partnership with Quality First/First Things First & High Quality Early Learning. If you would like to get on a waiting list please complete form and you will be contacted by either email or phone call once there is an opening. https://tinyurl.com/mjrzye5w
• Special education services are provided upon a child’s 3^rd birthday through natural kindergarten-age eligibility (5 year old by September 1^st) to children identified through the screening, evaluation, identification, and placement process prescribed by special education rules and regulations. If eligible for special education services, a multi-disciplinary team, including the parent/guardian(s) will develop an individual education plan (IEP) for the child. Children who qualify for special education services are not required to meet any income requirements and attend preschool free of charge.

If you suspect that your child is exhibiting delays in any area of their development, please call Berenice Soto at 623-533-3923 to schedule a FREE developmental screening for your child.  The dates for those monthly screenings are located on this page.

What Does The Program Look Like?

TESD preschool programs are developmentally appropriate, play-based programs.  We offer either a morning or afternoon session, four days a week for 3-hours per session. Parental involvement is a critical component of effective early childhood education, which we emphasize in our programs. We conduct parent training upon request and need.

What is the Early Childhood Curriculum?

The District utilizes the Frog Street Early Childhood Curriculum is implemented  along with the Arizona Early Childhood Education Standards and early childhood best practices. The five developmental areas are emphasized in all of our preschool programs:

o   Adaptive (self-help)

o   Cognitive (academics)

o   Social/emotional

o   Physical (fine and gross motor)

o   Communication (language) development

All preschool children in participating in a Tolleson Elementary School District Preschool Program are assessed twice a year using the state-mandated assessment, Teaching Strategies GOLD.