Preschool

Exceptional learning experiences lead to success in school.

School Readiness Preschool for 3-, 4- & 5-year-olds.

This preschool program offers exceptional learning experiences for 3-, 4- and 5-year olds two years before kindergarten. Social and learning skills are stressed through play, art, music, games and other developmentally appropriate activities. Our four and five-year-old program meets kindergarten entrance expectations, focusing on readiness skills.

Preschool Boy working on Tracing Lines worksheet

Early Childhood School Readiness Preschool Information

About

We value and prioritize providing the best learning environment for your child. It's important that your child's growth and development during early childhood is started right way. Our teachers have a four-year degree, minimum in early childhood. We provide curriculum that is age appropriate and tracks the children's progress.

To ensure every child is receiving what they need, we have individualized instruction respecting different learning styles and abilities. We offer support services like speech to provide each child with help where it is needed.

We encourage parent involvement and offer frequent communication through newsletters and conferences. Our open atmosphere invites parents to visit and observe their child's journey. We also have licensed parent educators for parents with a minimum four-year degree.

Building Bright Futures—One Child at a Time
Our early learning programs are designed to support your child’s growth in every way—academically, socially, and emotionally—within a warm and encouraging environment.

We offer preschool for 3-5-year-olds. Families who meet eligibility guidelines may qualify for free programming or scholarships.

We are very excited to provide offerings that meet the needs of families and students.

Before and/or after program childcare (Kids Club) at both Hillside and Rice Elementary
More offerings and more days per week options
Classes follow the SRR K–12 school calendar

Preschool at Sauk Rapids-Rice Public Schools Features

Nine months of two, three or five half-days of preschool.
An integrated classroom experience with ECSE (Early Childhood Special Education).
Both social and academic learning experiences two years before kindergarten.
Sliding fee scales, based on family income with nine monthly payments.

2025-2026 EC Information Packet

Downloadable 2025-2026 Preschool Pricing.pdf

3-Year-Old Preschool Options

Spark Curiosity in Preschool!

Our preschool program offers a nurturing and engaging first school experience that inspires a lifelong love of learning.
Classes are held at Hillside and Rice Elementary Schools, providing young learners with a fun, welcoming environment to grow socially, emotionally, and academically.
Children must be 3 years old by September 1 of the school year to enroll.
Families who do not qualify for a Pathways Scholarship (included in the Preschool 3s application) may enroll for a fee. Tuition is based on a sliding scale to help keep preschool accessible for all.

Hillside Preschool Classes - Fall 2026

2 DAYS PER WEEK - MORNING
Tuesday & Thursday: 8:30–11:00 a.m.

2 DAYS PER WEEK - AFTERNOON
Tuesday & Thursday: 12:30–3:00 p.m.

3 DAYS PER WEEK - MORNING
Monday/Wednesday/Friday: 8:30-11:00 a.m.
(Must be three by March 1, 2026)

3 DAYS PER WEEK - AFTERNOON
Monday/Wednesday/Friday: 12:30–3:00 p.m.
(Must be three by March 1, 2026)

Rice Preschool Classes - Fall 2026

2 DAYS PER WEEK - MORNING
Tuesday & Thursday: 8:45–11:15 a.m.

3 DAYS PER WEEK - MORNING
Monday/Wednesday/Friday: 8:45-11:15 a.m.
(Must be three by March 1, 2026)

4 & 5-Year-Olds Preschool Options

Spark Curiosity in Preschool!

Our preschool program offers a nurturing and engaging first school experience that inspires a lifelong love of learning.
Classes are held at Hillside and Rice Elementary Schools, providing young learners with a fun, welcoming environment to grow socially, emotionally, and academically.
Children must be 4 years old by September 1 of the school year to enroll.
Families who do not qualify for a Pathways Scholarship (included in the Preschool 3s application) may enroll for a fee. Tuition is based on a sliding scale to help keep preschool accessible for all.

Hillside Preschool Classes - Fall 2026

3 DAYS PER WEEK - MORNING
Monday/Wednesday/Friday: 8:30–11:00 a.m.

3 DAYS PER WEEK - AFTERNOON
Monday/Wednesday/Friday: 12:30–3:00 p.m..

5 DAYS PER WEEK - MORNING
Monday throughFriday: 8:30–11:00 a.m.

5 DAYS PER WEEK - AFTERNOON
Monday through Friday: 12:30–3:00 p.m.

Rice Preschool Classes - Fall 2026

5 DAYS PER WEEK - AFTERNOON
Monday through Friday 12:45–3:15 p.m

5 DAYS PER WEEK - FULL DAYS
Monday through Friday 8:45 a.m.–3:15 p.m.

Rates and Scholarship Application

School Readiness Preschool 2026-2027 Registration

Early bird for current families on programming and Sauk Rapids-Rice staff:
January 21, 2026

Enrollment open to all:
January 23, 2026

Classes begin the week of August 31, 2026
Early learning scholarships are available.

Please contact us for more information or assistance by calling 320-255-8910.

If you are ready to register, let's get started by logging in and creating a new account to register.

2025–2026 Printable Preschool Calendar

"HOW TO REGISTER" for CURRENT FAMILIES

"HOW TO REGISTER" for NEW FAMILIES

Parent Handbooks

Preschool Kids Club: Wrap Around Care at EC Hillside and Rice Elementary

Kids Club is a safe, structured, school-age child care program for preschoolers through fifth-graders at Rice Elementary and Hillside Early Childhood Center. The program is sponsored by Sauk Rapids-Rice Community Education. Your child will grow, spend time with friends and experience unique opportunities that promote exploration and creativity. Students participate in a variety of activities that incorporate language arts, science, math, technology, arts, social-emotional learning, fine and gross motor skill use, and physical activity. Kids Club helps students learn about themselves and the world around them in a safe, structured and inclusive environment. We hope your student will join us!

Use the registration links above to add this option to your Preschool registration.

2025-2026 Preschool Kids Club Handbook

Fun Facts About Us

Sauk Rapids-Rice Early Childhood Programs is a 4-Star Parent Aware rated program. Four stars is the highest ranking a program can receive.
Sauk Rapids-Rice Early Childhood Programs has been designated an “exemplary program” by the Doris Duke Foundation and the Center for the Study of Social Policy in Washington, D.C. The only early childhood program in Minnesota to receive this award, Sauk Rapids-Rice is one of 21 programs throughout the nation that was honored by this distinction.
Our school readiness preschool classes are integrated with early childhood special education. Typically developing children have the opportunity to be part of classes including children with a variety of abilities.
ECFE classes are offered to meet the needs of busy young families.
Curriculum is based on developmentally appropriate practices for children and Minnesota state standards for early childhood. Parent education curriculum is individualized for each parent group.
Funding comes from state aid and a local levy. Tuition fees and additional funding from a variety of grants and collaborations maintain the program.

School-Age Childcare Options

Kids Club

Located at Rice Elementary for Preschool to fifth grade students and for Preschool students at Hillside Early Childhood Center.

Find out more.

Summer Adventure Camp 2026

REGISTRATION TO OPEN: FEBRUARY 2, 2026

Rice Elementary | 200 NE 3rd Avenue, Rice, MN 56367

Map and Driving Directions

Preschool–Grade 5
Hours: 6:30 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
OPEN: June 2–August 21
CLOSED: June 19, July 3–6; August 24–28

Hillside School | 30 South 4th Avenue, Sauk Rapids, MN 56379
(Enter Door 6 in North parking lot)

Map and Driving Directions

Preschool–Kindergarten
Hours: 6:30 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
OPEN: June 2–August 21
CLOSED: June 19, July 3–6; August 24–28

Registration: Your child must be registered prior to their first date of attendance.

Fee: $32.00 per day and $20.00 registration fee*

What To Bring: Appropriate clothes for the weather, reusable water bottle, extra snacks, LUNCH, tennis shoes, spare outfit, sunscreen, bug repellent, swim gear if needed.

Summer Adventure Camp Family Handbook

Contact Info:
Amy Dierks
School-Age Child Care Coordinator
amy.dierks@isd47.org
Office phone: 320-258-1112
Rice Site Phone: 320-267-7768

Early Childhood Calendar

Full Calendar

Jan 27 2026

EC: Parent-Child (ECFE) class

3:45 PM - 7:45 PM

Feb 3 2026

EC: Parent-Child (ECFE) class

3:45 PM - 7:45 PM

Feb 4 2026

EC: No EC Classes

all day

Feb 10 2026

EC: Parent-Child (ECFE) class

3:45 PM - 7:45 PM

Feb 11 2026

EC: Unity Day-Wear Orange

all day

Feb 13 2026

EC: No EC Classes

all day

Locations

Hillside School | 30 South 4th Avenue, Sauk Rapids, MN 56379
(Enter Door 1 on South 5th Street)

Map and Driving Directions

Rice Elementary | 200 NE 3rd Avenue, Rice, MN 56367

Map and Driving Directions