QCUSD Preschool Programs

Full-Day Preschool and Kinder-Prep provides those students who will turn three (3) years old on or before August 31, 2025, the opportunity to prepare to enter kindergarten through meaningful experiences. Not only are students exposed to the longer day to increase stamina, but they also participate in a variety of specifically designed lessons that will help facilitate a smooth transition from preschool to kindergarten. Students in full-day preschool will benefit from a differentiated approach that allows them to gain confidence as learners in all domains. Students will experience learning opportunities designed to support both social-emotional learning and pre-academic skills. In addition, we will make enrichment and extension activities available, and students will benefit from teacher-directed instruction and student-led inquiry.

Full-Day Kinder Prep will meet every day that QCUSD is in session. Lunch will be available for purchase from the cafeteria or children may bring their own. Children with special needs may be eligible for this program in addition to the Special Needs Preschool. The Community Education Director will determine this on a case-by-case basis. Please allow adequate time for us to review your child’s contract for Full-Day Preschool. This class is taught by an appropriately Certified Early Childhood Education Teacher.

Coyote Pups 3 Day is a program for children between the ages of three and four years old. This introductory class meets three days per week throughout the QCUSD school year and is taught by a Certified Early Childhood Education Teacher. The curriculum in this class progresses at a rate suitable to the younger age group. Students participate in teacher-directed and student-led learning opportunities focused on social-emotional development with an introduction to pre-academic skills. Children must turn three (3) years old on or before August 31, 2025, to enroll in this class and are fully potty-trained.

If your child was born on or before August 31, 2021, they are too old to register for this class.

Kinder-Prep 3 Day is a program for children who will turn four (4) years old on or before August 31, 2025. This kindergarten preparation class offers a slightly more progressive pace than our Coyote Pups program while still only meeting three days per week during the QCUSD school year. Students continue to develop social-emotional readiness while building and strengthening communication skills and academic readiness through a developmentally appropriate instructional approach. This class is taught by an appropriately Certified Early Childhood Education Teacher.

Days and Times:

Kinder-Prep 4 Day afternoon class is a program for children that will turn four (4) years old on or before August 31, 2025. This kindergarten preparation program offers the opportunity for children to prepare to enter kindergarten while continuing to maintain a part-time schedule. This class is specifically designed for students entering kindergarten the next school year. Students will develop a sense of school routine and personal responsibility. Developmentally appropriate instructional strategies provide opportunities for social-emotional growth, concept development, and continued building of foundational academic skills. This class is taught by an appropriately Certified Early Childhood Education Teacher.

Kinder-Prep 5 Day morning class is a program for children that will turn four (4) years old on or before August 31, 2025. This kindergarten preparation program offers the opportunity for children to prepare to enter kindergarten while continuing to maintain a part-time schedule. This class meets every school day during the QCUSD school year. This class is specifically designed for students entering kindergarten the next school year. Students will develop a sense of school routine and personal responsibility. Developmentally appropriate instructional strategies provide opportunities for social-emotional growth, concept development, and continued building of foundational academic skills. This class is taught by an appropriately Certified Early Childhood Education Teacher.

Full-Day Preschool and Kinder-Prep provides those students who will turn three (3) years old on or before August 31, 2025, the opportunity to prepare to enter kindergarten through meaningful experiences. Not only are students exposed to the longer day to increase stamina, but they also participate in a variety of specifically designed lessons that will help facilitate a smooth transition from preschool to kindergarten. Students in full-day preschool will benefit from a differentiated approach that allows them to gain confidence as learners in all domains. Students will experience learning opportunities designed to support both social-emotional learning and pre-academic skills. In addition, we will make enrichment and extension activities available, and students will benefit from teacher-directed instruction and student-led inquiry.

Full-Day Preschool and Kinder Prep will meet every day that QCUSD is in session. Lunch will be available for purchase from the cafeteria or children may bring their own. Children with special needs may be eligible for this program in addition to the Special Needs Preschool. The Community Education Director will determine this on a case-by-case basis. Please allow adequate time for us to review your child’s contract for Full-Day Preschool. This class is taught by an appropriately Certified Early Childhood Education Teacher.

Full-Day Extended Care requires an additional contract. QCUSD offers before and aftercare for preschool-age students enrolled in full-day tuition preschool at Queen Creek Elementary, Gateway Polytechnic Academy, and Katherine Mecham Barney Elementary for an additional fee. Full-day students can attend before and aftercare by completing a separate contract for enrollment in Eleyo. In order to participate in before and aftercare, students must have an approved contract in the Eleyo Online Enrollment Portal for both preschool and before/aftercare.

***Breakfast will be available for purchase from the cafeteria if your child attends morning extended care before 7:30 a.m.

***Before and aftercare programs are contingent upon enrollment at each site. If minimum enrollment is not reached, we will contact you regarding other available preschool/extended care options.

***Before and aftercare contracts in preschool require a consistent daily schedule and must be the same days each week for the school year.

Hours: Extended care is available from 6:30 a.m to 8:30 a.m. and 3:15 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Extended Care Enrollment Fee: $50.00 (non-refundable)

Extended Care Rates: Fixed Weekly Schedule - $16.80 per day ($84.00 per week)

Stepping Stones Integrated Preschool is an early learning opportunity that brings typically-developing preschoolers and those who are experiencing delays in their development together in an inclusive environment that celebrates each unique child. Students in this class will meet three days each week during the QCUSD school year for two and a half hours each session. Students will engage in lessons from our core preschool instructional materials (Fundations, Origo Math, Handwriting Without Tears, and ECHOS Science) at a rate that aligns with our district curriculum maps for preschool. Children must turn three (3) years old on or before August 31, 2025, to enroll in this class and are fully potty-trained.