What is ECFE?
Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) is based on the idea that parents provide their child's first and most significant learning environment and parents are children's first and most enduring teachers. ECFE works to support you as a parent/caregiver and to strengthen and empower families. The goal is to enhance the ability of all parents and other family members to provide the best possible environments for their child's learning and development.
Who Can Participate in ECFE?
ECFE is a parenting education program for all Minnesota families with children between the ages of birth to kindergarten entrance. School districts that have a PreK-Third Grade initiative may offer programming for parents with children up to third grade, in order to support continued parent engagement in children's learning and development.
How is ECFE Offered?
The ECFE program is offered through Minnesota public school districts often times in partnership with other community or early learning programs. Learning opportunities through ECFE may occur in a variety of settings, such as the families’ homes, district or community sites, and online parenting education and support. Programming and education services often include parents/caregivers and children, but it may just include parents/caregivers. ECFE is provided by teachers who are licensed in early childhood and/or parenting education by the state of Minnesota. Most ECFE classes are charged based on a sliding fee scale based on the family's income.