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Preschool Programming for Four-Year-Olds

The Early Childhood Education and Early Childhood Special Education Department partner to provide families with preschool programs to prepare children for an easy transition to kindergarten and long-term academic success. Currently, three types of school based programs are available fo four-year-olds,  high five, high five inclusion, and and ECSE Center Based Classrooms; see below for more information.

Note: Children who are age-eligible for kindergarten are not eligible for enrollment in High Five unless specified by their Special Education Individual Education Plan (IEP).

1) HIGH FIVE is a half-day or full-day preschool program for Minneapolis children who:

  1. Turn four years old by September 1.
  2. Start kindergarten the following fall.
  • The sliding fee scale establishes a recommended amount of payment for service based on family income and family size.  See Preschool Fee Agreement - updated April 2020 (Hmong, Somali, Spanish)
  • No child will be excluded because of their family's inability to pay. The fee for High Five is waived for children who qualify for Educational Benefits (formerly known as Free and Reduced) or who receive Early Childhood Special Education services. Families that do not qualify for Educational Benefits will be charged based on the sliding fee scale.

Teacher-Student ratio is 2:20 = There are 20 students per class with 1 licensed teacher and 1 associate educator

Locations: High Five sites are located at many Minneapolis Public K-8 schools; see list of locations.

Transportation: FREE

Fee:  MPS is required by state law to establish a sliding fee scale for High Five students. The MPS High Five fee is waived for students that are placed via special education. Students with speech only specialized services  are not eligible for special education placement in High Five sites. 

Registration process: You may apply online, complete a school request card, or call 612.668.1840 for registration information and materials. Families of children receiving special education services are encouraged to work with your child's ECSE teacher/case manager to enroll. 

2) HIGH FIVE INCLUSION classrooms offer a higher level of specialized support for students receiving special education services.

HIGH FIVE INCLUSION  is a half-day or full-day preschool program for Minneapolis children who:

  1. Turn four years old by September 1.

  2. Start kindergarten the following fall.

In High Five Inclusion classrooms, a special education assistant supports daily, with itinerant licensed staff on site. Up to four students with special education services can be enrolled within an inclusion High Five classroom via special education placement.  Special Education does not place students who are only eligible for speech services.  Students that are enrolled in a High Five Inclusion program in a non-special education seat that later qualify for special education services have the opportunity to remain in the High Five Inclusion classroom at the recommendation of the educational team.

Students with special education services in the High Five Inclusion classroom typically have a need for more specialized instruction and support than can be delivered in a regular High Five classroom.  Students with special education services in the Inclusion High Five classroom will receive their services during the school day, which may include related services such as speech, occupational therapy, physical therapy, etc. While students placed in an Inclusion High Five classroom may have needs in multiple areas of development, they should have functional communication in place. 

Teacher-Student ratio is 2:20 = There are 20 students per class maximum with 1 licensed teacher, 1 associate educator, 1 special education assistant, and 1 itinerant early childhood special education teacher. 

Locations: High Five Inclusion sites are located at many Minneapolis Public K-8 schools.

Teacher-Student ratio is 2:20 = There are 20 students per class maximum with 1 licensed teacher, 1 associate educator, 1 special education assistant, and 1 itinerant early childhood special education teacher. 

Transportation: FREE

Fee: MPS is required by state law to establish a sliding fee scale for High Five students. The MPS High Five fee is waived for students that are placed via special education. Students with speech only specialized services  are not eligible for special education placement in High Five sites. 

Registration process: For general enrollment, You may apply online, complete a school request card, or call 612.668.1840 for registration information and materials. For early childhood special education enrollment, contact your child’s case manager, or call the Early Childhood Special Education office at 612-668-5100 

3) ECSE CENTER BASED CLASSROOMS   are highly specialized classrooms to meet children’s individualized education plan (IEP) goals and objectives.

More information about our ECSE center based classrooms can be found here