
The Hillsboro Early Childhood Programs are funded by a grant
from the Illinois State Board of Education, and may enroll children for
any number of reasons as determined by a trained screening team and criteria
set by the State Board.
The Pre-Kindergarten grant has grown immensely since its first years beginning
in 1986, with Sharon Winnett as Program Director for 16 years. Current
director, Francine Luckett, has been with the program since 1992, and
Programs Director since 2002.
There are 19 staff members serving 200 children
in 6 classrooms, at 4 locations: Hillsboro Free Methodist Church, Coffeen
Elementary School, and Hillsboro Community Child Development Center on
the Hillsboro Area Hospital grounds, and Head Start/Pre-K at Beckemeyer School.
The Pre-Kindergarten classrooms fully include ALL children with delays
or disabilities, sharing staff and services with Early Childhood Special
Education.
In addition, the grant provides a Birth to Three Years Program designed
to support and provide resources to parents of children under 3 years.
Through this program children have an opportunity to play with others
when their parents bring them to playgroups, library story times, picnics,
gym nights, parent workshops, and field trips.
The Early Childhood Programs can be contacted for further information
by calling our Coffeen site at (217) 534-2314. Fax number is (217) 534-6088.