Preschool & Prekindergarten

Please check with each program for their specific toilet-training expectations. Our four-year-old programs ask that children are mostly self-sufficient with bathroom needs; while recognizing every child develops at their own pace and we partner with families to support that growth. Families can also reach out to Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) for resources—licensed parent educators offer phone consults, visits, and classes on toilet training and other child-development topics.

In cases of extreme weather, such as lightning, extreme cold, or heat advisories, outdoor activities may be modified, moved indoors, or canceled for safety reasons. For specific weather-related guidelines view the Nature Preschool Weather Guidelines

Children spend significant time outdoors during each class, as outdoor play is a core component of the curriculum. The exact amount of time depends on the weather and safety considerations for the day.

Nature Preschool is a great way to ease children into outdoor play. Teachers provide support and guidance to help children feel comfortable exploring nature and adapting to different weather conditions.

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. 

You can register online at osseo.ce.eleyo.com. There you will find complete class schedules and details. If you need assistance, call  763-391-8777 or email ecfe@district279.org.

• No, your child does not need to complete Early Childhood Screening before registering. Have your child screened between the ages of three and five.
• Early Childhood Screening is a free and simple way to check your child’s growth, development, and learning. Learn more about screening at ce.district279.org/early-childhood/screening
• If your child has already been screened in another school district, please email the screening paperwork to ecfe@district279.org.

Please check with each program for their specific toilet-training expectations. Our four-year-old programs ask that children are mostly self-sufficient with bathroom needs; while recognizing every child develops at their own pace and we partner with families to support that growth. Families can also reach out to Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) for resources—licensed parent educators offer phone consults, visits, and classes on toilet training and other child-development topics.

In Prekindergarten for Fours: Free transportation may be available for students who qualify based on home address and attendance area. Transportation is one way only: to school for morning classes or home from school for afternoon classes. For more information visit district279.org/transportation, call 763-391-7244 or email: busquestions@district279.org 

Yes, registration remains open after the lottery; however, placement depends on class availability. Call 763-391-8777 to discuss options if your preferred class is full.

The lottery is completely random, giving every family who registers during the lottery period an equal chance of being placed in one of their chosen classes, regardless of whether they register on the first or last day. Families will be notified of the results shortly after the lottery is complete.

If your child isn’t placed in one of your selected classes, a staff member will contact you to help find another option or add your child to the waiting list for one or two of your class choices.

If your child is enrolled in a class, they can be in one waiting room for another class. If they are not enrolled in a class, they can be in up to two waiting rooms.

When a spot becomes available in a class, the office runs a mini-lottery among the students in that class’s waiting room. Parents or guardians of the selected child are notified and have 48 hours to respond by phone or email to accept the spot. If there is no response, another mini-lottery is held, and the spot is offered to someone else.

Tuition is based on a sliding fee scale that considers household income and family size. The specific fee scale is available in the registration brochure. If the tuition cost would prevent you from enrolling your child, call 763-391-8777 to discuss financial assistance. Scholarships may be available to help reduce tuition for families who qualify. 

• Tuition is divided into nine equal monthly payments, due on the 15th of each month. Payments are automatically charged to the credit card or bank account you provide.
• If you prefer, you can pay the full annual tuition upfront and receive a 5% discount if payment is made before Sept. 14.
• When your child is enrolled in a class after the lottery process, a nonrefundable $25 registration fee and the first month's tuition are charged. The remaining eight payments are made monthly from September through April.

Teacher assignments are finalized in August. You will receive teacher and classroom details, along with orientation information, by mid-August. All Osseo Area Schools Preschool for Threes and Prekindergarten for Fours teachers hold a teaching license from the State of Minnesota. 

Yes, each school offers scheduled school tours. Call 763-391-8777 to schedule a time.

• Four Star Express is for children to who turn four on or before Sept. 1, 2025. 

• Visit osseo.ce.eleyo.com scroll down to Four Star Express, and select "click here to enroll" 
• School year 2025-26 Four Star Express registration opens Jan. 15, 2025 at 9 a.m. until Jan. 31, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. A lottery drawing will take place Feb. 3, 2025.
• Families will be notified no later than Feb. 14, 2025 if their child's contract has been accepted or denied. 

Yes, you can register for multiple locations. During the registration process, you will have the opportunity to indicate your first and second choice in the Questions and Answers section. Your top two location preferences will be taken into account during the lottery process.  

• No, your child does not need to complete Early Childhood Screening before registering. Have your child screened between the ages of three and five.
• Early Childhood Screening is a free and simple way to check your child’s growth, development, and learning. Learn more about Early Childhood Screening. 
• If your child has already been screened in another school district, please email the screening paperwork to ecfe@district279.org.

All registrations submitted during the registration window (9 a.m. Jan. 15, 2025 through 11:59 p.m. Jan. 31, 2025) have an equal chance of being accepted. A lottery drawing will take place Feb. 3, 2025. Registrations will be randomized and accepted based on available space. Families will be notified no later than Feb. 14, 2025 if their child's contract has been accepted or denied. 

• If your contract is accepted or denied, you will receive an automated email confirmation no later than Feb. 14, 2025.
• If your contract is accepted: We do ask that you email us a copy of your child's birth certificate & immunization records. 

• If your contract is denied: You will receive an email from the business office, no later than 2/14/25.  Your registration along with your first and second choice will remain open after the lottery unless you remove/withdraw your contract. As space becomes available, we will notify families in the order determined by the lottery.

Yes. Your contact will remain pending until approved by program admin. 

Please check with each program for their specific toilet-training expectations. Our four-year-old programs ask that children are mostly self-sufficient with bathroom needs; while recognizing every child develops at their own pace and we partner with families to support that growth. Families can also reach out to Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) for resources—licensed parent educators offer phone consults, visits, and classes on toilet training and other child-development topics.

The weekly tuition is $290.98, or $11,639.20 total for the 40 week program.

The Four Star Express does accept child care assistance through your county.  Our program also offers scholarships through an application process.  These can be requested through our business office.  

We invoice on Thursday and it is deducted from your autopayment on Monday for that week of care. Autopayment is required to be setup through your Four Star Express online account. 

• You can drop off your child at each Four Star Express site as early as 7 a.m. and pickup by 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The “school hours” follow the hours of the elementary school your child attends.

There are twenty children in each classroom. The child to staff ration is 1:10.

We offer a collaborative and developmentally appropriate childcare experience designed to support the early needs of children in a school setting. Our program features hands-on learning through play, social-emotional development, and a structured classroom environment. Additionally, we incorporate curriculum that aligns with the district's early childhood programs. Our program includes up to five field trips throughout the school year, all covered by your tuition.

Four Star Express provides a daily rest period lasting 30 minutes to an hour. While children are not required to sleep, they are encouraged to rest their bodies and participate in quiet activities in a designated space.

• Yes, Four Star Express does provide breakfast, lunch and afternoon snack.  This is included in the price of your tuition. 

Transportation is not a guarantee for Four Star Express children. To be considered for transportation, an older sibling needs to be on the same bus and, there must be capacity on the bus route. If you have questions, visit the Transportation Department website, email bus@district279.org or call the transportation office at 763-391-7244.

Yes. Four Star Express is open on most non-school days. Registration for non-school days can be made online in your account with a current contract. Non-school day requests remain pending until approved two weeks prior to the non-school date. Non-school days are included in tuition.

• If a family withdraws and there is another family registered at the time of withdrawal who accepts this opening, we will provide a full refund of the last week’s deposit. 
• If a family withdraws by 11:59 p.m. on June 30 and the opening cannot be filled at the time of withdrawal, we will provide a half refund of your last week’s deposit.
• If a family withdraws after 11:59 p.m. on June 30 and the opening cannot be filled at the time of withdrawal, no refund will be provided.

Staff assignments will be finalized in August 2025. If your contract is accepted, you will receive an invitation to attend a virtual Four Star Preview event where we will share basic information and introduce the staff supporting your child's classroom. Classroom staff will be available for the upcoming school year starting on August 25, 2025.

Four Star staff are not trained special education professionals and are not equipped to deliver specialized services. However, we are dedicated to supporting children with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) and  committed to fostering an inclusive and accommodating environment while operating within our scope of expertise and available resources.

• Yes. We offer opportunities to visit a classroom during the school year. Contact the business office to schedule a time. 
• Elementary School Open Houses are scheduled before the first day of school to meet the principal, staff, teacher and see the classroom. The 2025-26 calendars will be posted on the website.

Students must qualify to attend this program for free.  Students must meet one of the following criteria to attend for free: 

• Qualifies for free or reduced-priced meals/educational benefits
• Qualifies for state general financial eligibility requirements listed in Minn. Stat. 119B.09, Sub 1, paragraph (a), clause 2
• Is an English Language Learner
• Is an American Indian
• Has experienced homelessness in the last 24 months
• Is identified through health and development screening with a potential risk factor that may influence learning
• Is in foster care, kinship care, or is in need of child protection services
• Has a parent who is a migrant or seasonal agriculture laborer
• Has a parent who is incarcerated
• Is defined as eligible by the school district. Osseo Area Schools defines this as students who live in the attendance areas zoned for our current Free, Half-Day, Every day Prekindergarten schools. First priority is given to students whose home residence is within the attendance area of one of those schools. The student must be four years old on or before Sept. 1, 2025 and not eligible for Kindergarten.

Use the Find My School website to check which school your child is assigned to and transportation eligibility. 

Birch Grove School for the Arts:
Apply: Oct. 15-Dec. 17, 2025 {Lottery 1: January 14}
Apply:  Jan. 21-March 11 {Lottery 2: Mar 25:}

All other Tuition Free Prekindergarten schools (non-magnet): 
Apply: Nov. 15- Jan. 15 {Lottery 1: Jan. 20:};

Ongoing enrollment through the start of school in fall 2026.

Complete one of the following applications

2025-26 Free Half Day, Every Day prekindergarten attendance area school application

2025-26 free Half Day, every day prekindergarten open enrollment school choice application 

Visit the  Transportation Department website. 

Students who are eligible and request transportation before August 2026:

• Free transportation is available to eligible students who live 0.8 mile or more from their school. To request transportation, please email busquestions@district279.org
• Transportation to and from school begins the first day of school for students who are eligible and have requested transportation.

Students who are eligible and request transportation after August 2026: 

• Mid-day transportation (from school to home if enrolled in morning prekindergarten, or from home to school if afternoon prekindergarten) for eligible students, is the responsibility of the parent/guardian until mid-day bus routes have been arranged by transportation staff (this may take up to three weeks).
• Children whose Individualized Education Program (IEP) requires specialized transportation will need to contact the Due Process Clerk at their student’s school to have them request specialized busing.

• Each school offers scheduled tours for families. Contact the school directly to schedule a tour.
• Elementary School Open Houses are scheduled before the first day of school to meet the principal, staff, teacher and see the classroom. The 2026-27 calendar will be posted on the website.

Please check with each program for their specific toilet-training expectations. Our four-year-old programs ask that children are mostly self-sufficient with bathroom needs; while recognizing every child develops at their own pace and we partner with families to support that growth. Families can also reach out to Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) for resources—licensed parent educators offer phone consults, visits, and classes on toilet training and other child-development topics.