Early Education Center

Program Overview

KEEC’s 5-Day Pre-K gives children the year immediately before Kindergarten a full-week, curriculum-rich preschool experience. Seats are prioritized for families who meet Missouri at-risk criteria and/or income guidelines tied to the National School Lunch Program, and tuition is free for those who qualify.

Purpose:

Build rock-solid literacy, numeracy and self-regulation foundations so each learner walks into Kindergarten ready to hit the ground running.

Our Learning Model

Inclusive, play-based classrooms. Our students learn shoulder-to-shoulder, gaining authentic language, social and problem-solving practice.

Whole-child supports. Speech-language, occupational and physical therapists push in or pull out according to each child's IEP.  Play Therapy and Music Therapy are also provided through the Clay County Children's Service Fund.

Certified expertise. All lead teachers hold early-childhood or special-education certification, and para-educators complete annual specialized training.

What We Teach

Each child follows an Individualized Education Program (IEP) that targets five developmental domains—communication, cognitive, adaptive, social-emotional, and motor. Instruction blends structured literacy, early-numeracy games, sensory-rich fine-motor centers, and explicit social-emotional lessons aligned with the Missouri Early Learning Standards, including the Emerging Language and Literacy Curriculum and Second Step curriculum. We also focus on developing fine and gross motor skills, which can include monthly in-class consultation by Physical and Occupational Therapists, as well as whole-class motor labs twice annually.

Family Partnership

Parents and guardians are equal members of the IEP team. KEEC offers:

• Quarterly progress reporting to review data and celebrate growth toward goals
• Take-home learning opportunities that mirror classroom themes for easy practice
• Wrap-around services through parents as teachers, with support for younger siblings as well
• Must complete a Brigance developmental screening prior to entering the program
• Priority placement for Integrated Peer positions is given to families actively participating in the Parents as Teachers program
• Quarterly progress reports, annual parent-teacher conferences, annual IEP meetings (when applicable), and regular posting of photos and updates on Parent Square

Measuring Success

• Regularly occurring data collection, monitoring goal progress and kindergarten readiness
• Annual Early Childhood Outcomes (ECO) reports show growth rates that meet or exceed expectations