Early Childhood

Laurie Wenzel, Director

Pattonville has expanded its early childhood programs and services to offer more early education opportunities to Pattonville young children and families.  Early Childhood programs and services include:

Parents As Teachers (PAT)

The PAT program is built on the premise that parents are a child's first and best teacher.  Pattonville's team of parent educators provide support, resources, and developmental information to help with their most important, but sometimes toughest, job; that of being a parent.  Each family enrolled in PAT is provided with their own personal parent educator.  Parent Educators support families by providing personal visits, screenings for children, assistance with difficult issues (i.e. sleeping, toilet training), and developmental information and education.  Families are also provided with group meetings and training that help parents in specific areas such as discipline as well as fun activities for their children.  PAT can also assist parents in obtaining early intervention for children when there are developmental areas of concern.  For more information or to enroll, call (314) 213-8105 or e-mail mwilliams@psdr3.org.

Early Childhood Preschool

Pattonville has expanded the preschool programs to accommodate preschool opportunities in various locations throughout the district. Pattonville's early childhood preschools are located in Pattonville's Learning Center as well as in most elementary schools in the district. The preschool sessions offered include a combination of two or four half days; Monday-Thursday in either the morning or afternoon. Also offered is a limited 5-Full Days, Monday-Friday, session at one elementary school. The early childhood preschools operate in alignment with the Pattonville school year and are not in session during the summer months. Each of the preschool classes has a maximum of 13 - 20 students and is led by a teacher who is certified in early childhood by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Each classroom is also staffed with at least one paraprofessional to assist the teacher with each child's learning and development. The early childhood classroom program is Constructivist in nature, believing that children construct their knowledge individually and learn much through play. Tuition for the preschool is determined based on comparable tuition rates from preschools in the community. For more information or to enroll, call (314) 213-8105 or e-mail mwilliams@psdr3.org.

Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE)

Pattonville provides free ECSE service for any child found eligible, beginning at age three.  Eligibility criteria set by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is used to determine if children are eligible for ECSE service.  Pattonville's early childhood diagnostic team provides diagnostic assessment to assist parents in determining if their child is eligible.  If found eligible, a team usually comprised of early childhood educators, therapists and the parents design an Individual Education Plan (IEP) for the child.   Early Childhood Special Education Services in Pattonville are provided by certified special education staff in a variety of settings (i.e. preschool class, childcare centers, neighborhood elementary schools) and in a variety of ways (i.e. small groups, one-on-one, embedded in developmental play).  For more information, call (314) 213-8100 or e-mail dnix@psdr3.org.

Tuition-Free Preschool Placement

Pattonville has the opportunity to utilize federal monies to fund preschool tuition for eligible children. The eligibility criteria are based on information obtained from developmental screening through the PAT program and also information from parents and other educational professionals working with the child. These funds are limited and the number of children eligible for this free service may vary each year. To schedule your child's screening, call the Early Childhood Screening Line at (314) 213-8000, 4 -1168.

Adolescent Parenting Childcare Program

Pattonville provides free childcare for up to eight infants and toddlers born to Pattonville teen students during the time the parent is attending school in Pattonville.  The childcare is located at Pattonville High School and is led by two childcare providers.  The program operates in collaboration with the PAT program and Pattonville's Family and Consumer Science (FACS) Program as well as the counseling program.  Each teen parent in enrolled in PAT and is assigned a parent educator who works in collaboration with the childcare staff.  The teen parent is also required to participate in specific parenting and child development classes through the FACS program as well as participate in a counseling support group for teen parents.  The childcare service is only offered during school attendance time.  For more information, call (314) 213-8105 or e-mail ksmith@psdr3.org.