Preschool & Prekindergarten

staff and student smiling at camera while doing table top activities in the classroom

Announcement

Apply now through noon Feb. 13 to enter the lottery:

Preschool for Threes, Preschool for Three to Fives and Nature Preschool
Prekindergarten for Fours

Apply now through Jan. 31 to enter the lottery:

Four Star Express prekindergarten plus care

Apply now: Tuition Free Prekindergarten (non-magnet schools) of Edinbrook, Elm Creek, Fair Oaks , Garden City, Oak View, Palmer Lake, Park Brook elementary schools and Zanewood Community: A STEAM School. Applications received after Jan. 15, 2026 will be processed in the order they arrive to the Enrollment Center.

Apply Jan. 21–March 11: Tuition Free Prekindergarten at Birch Grove School for the Arts (magnet school, second lottery).

PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS GUIDEBOOK PDF (ENGLISH)

Dream. Explore. Discover.

Osseo Area Schools has more than one preschool program for 3 and 4 year-olds. Each program provides:

Play-based learning
Highly qualified staff
Schedules to meet family needs
Family and school engagement
Belonging, connection and support

Learning options for your child

My child turns 3 years old on or before Sept. 1, 2026. What programs are they eligible for?
My child will turn 4 years old on or before Sept. 1, 2026. What programs are they eligible for?

My child turns 3 years old on or before Sept. 1, 2026. What programs are they eligible for?

Children who turn 3 on or before Sept. 1, 2026 are eligible for:

Preschool for Threes
Preschool for Three to Fives
Nature Play Preschool for Three to Fives

If your child will not be 3 by Sept. 1, 2026, explore Osseo Area Schools' Community Education's Early Childhood Family Education parenting and play-based classes for families with children birth to age 5.

Preschool at a glance for school year 2026-27

Program name	Schedule	Cost/Fees	Transportation	Staff ratio	School locations
Preschool for Threes	Morning or afternoon 2-3 days a week	A sliding fee scale based on household income	No	17 students to 1 teacher, 1 ESP	Arbor View Early Childhood Center Cedar Island Elementary School Willow Lane early Childhood Center
Preschool for Three to Fives	Afternoon 3 days a week	A sliding fee scale based on household income	No	17 students to 1 teacher, 1 ESP	Willow Lane Early Childhood Center
Nature Play Preschool for Three to Fives	Morning or afternoon 2-3 days a week	A sliding fee scale based on household income	No	17 students to 1 teacher, 1 ESP	Arbor View Early Childhood Center's outdoor Nature Play Area
Note: Locations may be added/changed

My child will turn 4 years old on or before Sept. 1, 2026. What programs are they eligible for?

Children who turn 4 on or before Sept. 1, 2026 are eligible for:

Tuition Free Prekindergarten
Prekingergarten for Fours
Four Star Express
Blast Wrap Around Care

These programs are coordinated by different teams in Osseo Area Schools. Each program provides play-based learning, highly qualified staff, family and community engagement, flexible schedules and options to meet family needs.

Program name	Schedule	Cost/Fees	Transportation	Staff ratio	School locations
Prekindergarten for Fours	Morning or afternoon 2-5 days a week	A sliding fee scale based on household income	Yes, one way if eligible. Check with the program for details.	18 students to 2 staff	Arbor View Early Childhood Center Willow Lane Early Childhood Center Elementary schools Basswood Cedar Island Fernbrook Oak View Rice Lake Woodland Note: Locations may be added or changed
Tuition-Free Prekindergarten	Morning or afternoon Monday though Friday	Free	Yes, if eligible. Check with the program for details.	20 students to 2 staff	Elementary schools: Edinbrook Elm Creek Fair Oaks Garden City Oak View Palmer Lake Park Brook Zanewood Birch Grove (magnet application)
Four Star Express prekindergarten plus care	7 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday	$303 per week for 40 weeks for a total of $12,120. Open on most non-school days	Yes, if eligible. Check with the program for details.	20 students to 2 staff	Elementary schools Aspen Ridge Basswood Cedar Island Fernbrook Rice Lake Rush Creek Weaver Lake Woodland
Blast Wrap Around Care Extended child care before and/or after prekindergarten class	7 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday	$200 per week Open on most non-school days	Yes, if eligible. Check with your child's prekindergarten program for details.	20 students to 2 staff	Only available at Oak View Elementary School. Students must be enrolled in a prekindergarten program at Oak View Elementary School.

Take the next step and explore each program

Preschool for Threes and Preschool for Three to Fives

Prekindergarten for Fours

Tuition Free Prekindergarten - also called Voluntary PreK (VPK) in Minnesota

Four Star Express - full day prekindergarten plus care

Blast Wrap Around Care - extended childcare at Oak View Elementary School

How to apply

Learn about school year 2026–27 attendance boundaries and use school finder tools

Will my child go to the same school for preschool, prekindergarten and kindergarten?

Enrollment in Osseo Area Schools’ preschool and prekindergarten programs does not automatically transfer to kindergarten. Parents/guardians will need to complete kindergarten enrollment for their child. Learn about how to enroll your child in kindergarten on the district website osseoschools.org/enroll.

Exceptions include:

1). Students who are enrolled in the district’s Tuition Free Prekindergarten program (they are promoted to their attendance area school for kindergarten).

2). At Birch Grove School for the Arts (a magnet school through Northwest Suburban Integration School District (NWSISD) students enrolled in Tuition Free Prekindergarten or Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) will be promoted to kindergarten. If their home school offers an ECSE program, parents/guardians can choose for their child to attend there or continue at Birch Grove.

3). Students receiving special education services will be contacted by their case manager if the assigned school is not their area school of attendance.

Learn the important dates to apply, deadlines and lotteries

Preschool for Threes and Prekindergarten for Fours

Jan. 14, 2026: Registration opens at 9 a.m. online osseo.ce.eleyo.com
Feb. 13, 2026: Registration deadline for the lottery is noon.
Feb. 17, 2026: Registration lottery drawing held.
Feb. 20, 2026: Families notified by email of lottery results.
Feb. 25, 2026: Registration will open back up to public.

Tuition Free Prekindergarten (also known as Voluntary PreK or VPK)

Birch Grove School for the Arts:

Apply: Oct. 15-Dec. 17, 2025 {Lottery 1: January 14} - this deadline has passed.
Apply: Jan. 21-March 11 {Lottery 2: Mar 25:}
Apply online at www.nws.k12.mn.us. Contact Northwest Suburban Integration School District at 763-450-1303 with questions.

All other Tuition Free Prekindergarten schools (non-magnet: Edinbrook, Elm Creek, Fair Oaks, Garden City, Oak View, Palmer Lake
Park Brook elementary schools and Zanewood Community: A STEAM School).

Apply: Nov. 15- Jan. 15 {Lottery 1: Jan. 20:}
Ongoing enrollment through the start of school in fall 2026.
Application questions can be directed to the Enrollment Center staff at (763) 585-7350.

Four Star Express prekindergarten plus child care

Jan. 14, 2026: Registration opens at 9 a.m. online at osseo.ce.eleyo.com
Jan. 31, 2026: Registeration due by today for lottery.
Feb. 2, 2026: Registration deadline for the lottery is 9 a.m. Lottery held on this day.
Feb. 9, 2026: Families notified by email of lottery results.

Blast Wrap Around Care

Registration information will be sent to families after their student’s prekindergarten registration at Oak View Elementary School is approved.

Complete an application

Apply online for the following programs:

Preschool for Threes
Preschool for Three to Fives
Nature Play Preschool for Three to Fives
Prekindergarten for Fours
Four Star Express prekindergarten + care
Blast Wrap Around Care (extended childcare for students in a prekindergarten class at Oak View Elementary School.).

To apply for Tuition Free Prekindergarten:

For Birch Grove School for the Arts (magnet school): Apply online at www.nws.k12.mn.us. Contact Northwest Suburban Integration School District at 763-450-1303 with questions.

To Apply For all other non-magnet schools with Tuition Free Prekindergarten:

Complete the application and return it to Osseo Area Schools' Enrollment Center. Application questions? Call the Enrollment Center at 763-585-7350.

2026-27 TUITION FREE PREKINDERGARTEN APPLICATION (English) FILLABLE PDf

School year 2025-26 applications:

2025-26 Free Half Day (Mon.-Fri.) prekindergarten attendance area school application

2025-26 free Half Day, (MOn.-Fri.) prekindergarten open enrollment school choice application

2025-26 Free half day, (MON.-FRI.) prekindergarten Birch grove school for the arts NWSISD magnet lottery application

2025-26 Free half day, (MON.-FRI.) prekindergarten birch grove nwsisd magNet school infomation

Ask about scholarship eligibility or financial assistance

Wait for lottery results

Information and resources for families

Preschool programs guidebook for schoool year 2026-27

Schedule an Early Childhood Screening appointment for your child

Early Childhood Screening is a free and simple way to check your child’s growth, development and learning.

Have your child screened between the ages of three and five.
Call 763-391-8777 or go online to schedule a free, one-hour screening appointment
If your child has already been screened in another school district, include the screening paperwork with your application.
Learn more about Early Childhood Screening.

A Screening appointment includes:

A check of vision, hearing, height, weight and developmental progress.
A review of immunizations records and family information.
An individual review with parents/guardians of their child's progress and needs.

Why it matters: Early Childhood Screening identifies needs that may require special attention before a child starts school.

Find support for your family before preschool or prekindergarten starts

Parents/caregivers can contact Osseo Area Schools' Community Education's Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) program for resources. Licensed parent educators offer phone consults, visits, and classes on toilet training and other child-development topics. ECFE's main office phone number is 763-391-8777 and email is ecfe@district279.org.

Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) provides opportunities for growth and support of children and their families.

Any child between birth and five years with a demonstrated developmental delay and who meets certain eligibility criteria can receive services. If you would like to make a referral for an evaluation or to discuss developmental concerns with an intake facilitator, please refer to the contact information below.

For children ages birth to three with developmental concerns, including speech and/or language development, contact:

Claire Becerra, Administrative Professional, NW Hennepin Help Me Grow
Willow Lane Early Childhood Center
763-585-7335 | BecerraC@district279.org

For children ages 3-5 with developmental concerns, including speech and/or language development, contact:

Mariam Abbas, Administrative Professional
Willow Lane Early Childhood Center
763-585-7300 | AbbasM@district279.org

Visit your child's school and attend school events

Each school offers scheduled tours for families to learn more about student experiences. Contact the school or program directly to schedule a tour.
Programs may offer an orientation for families before the school year begins. Each program will provide a schedule and more information to families closer to the start of the new school year, typically in August.
Elementary School Open Houses are one-time events offered typically in late August or early September before the school year begins for families to tour the school and meet staff. Check the district website in the spring of 2026 for the schedule for the 2026-27 school year.