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.