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Early Childhood Education (Pre-K)

Early Childhood Education (Pre-K)

Pre-K Screenings

Pre-K screenings are for children who are ages three and four and who will not enter kindergarten in the fall of 2024. A kindergarten screening will be conducted as part of the enrollment process in the spring of the child’s pre-k year.

To schedule a screening, please contact Parents as Teachers Coordinator Brittney King via email or (816) 628-4650.

Pre-K Screening Location:
Kearney Early Education Center
150 W State Rte 92
Kearney, MO 64060

Kearney School District’s Early Childhood Education (Pre-K) program is housed at the Kearney Early Education Center and lays a foundation for lifelong learning by providing high-quality, play-based experiences that address the whole child. Our state-licensed classrooms serve four-year-olds in half-day and full-day sessions, staffed by certified early-childhood educators and para-professionals.

Program Highlights

Missouri Early Learning Standards: Curriculum grounded in state benchmarks for language, literacy, math, science, and social-emotional development.

  • Play-Based & Inquiry-Driven Learning: Hands-on centers (blocks, art, dramatic play, sensory tables) encourage exploration, problem-solving, and creativity.
  • Parents As Teachers Support: Home-visiting and group-connection opportunities that empower families to reinforce learning at home.
  • Comprehensive Screenings & Interventions: Ongoing developmental checks, speech/language support, and RTI-style interventions to identify and address learning needs early.
  • Family Engagement Events: Monthly workshops, “Story & Snack” mornings, and parent-teacher conferences foster strong school-home partnerships.
  • Smooth Transition to Kindergarten: Summer orientation visits, buddy-classroom meet-ups, and shared-readiness workshops ease students’ move into K–5.

We’re committed to nurturing confident, curious learners by creating a safe, inclusive environment where every Pre-K child discovers new strengths, builds positive relationships, and takes their first joyful steps on the path to school success.

Parents As Teachers

Kearney School District's Parents as Teachers program (PAT) provides early childhood parent education. We believe you are your child’s first and most influential teacher. We are here to support you in your parenting journey.

PAT programs are offered in every school district in the state of Missouri. We are also offered throughout the United States and internationally. The patrons of Kearney School District are very fortunate to have this program available to them. We are funded largely by the 2011 Tax levy and to a lesser degree by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. We provide services for all families with children from birth up to kindergarten. Research shows that PAT children are better prepared for school entry and they score higher on standardized testing all the way up through third grade.

For questions about this program, email Parents as Teachers Coordinator Brittney King at kingb@ksdr1.net or call (816) 628-4650.

KSD Parents As Teachers Application