Blended EC Application can be accessed here.

Hinckley-Big Rock School District #429 will again be offering the Blended Early Childhood Program for children ages 3-5 for the 2024-2025 school year. This program is located at the elementary school. A Blended Early Childhood program is a preschool class which services students ages three through five years old. Concepts and skills related to language arts, math, science, physical growth, health and social-emotional milestones are developed through instructional units. Children will acquire these skills through a balance of teacher-directed and child-initiated learning opportunities. Children are taught in small group, large group and individualized settings which promote independence, problem-solving, cooperative learning and self-confidence.

HBR’s blended program will have a maximum of 12 students, including 7 students who are typically developing and up to 5 students with special education needs. This program is taught by a licensed early childhood teacher who is approved to teach children both with and without special needs. A program assistant also supports the students in the preschool classroom.

All Early Childhood / Blended classes will meet 5 days per week morning (8:30-11:00) and afternoon (12:30-3:00) with inclusion programs offered at both times of the day. AM and PM placement will be based on age. 3 year old students will be assigned to the AM class and 4 year old students or students who will transition to kindergarten the following year will be assigned to the PM class.

Typically developing pre-school children who attend will pay tuition for their program. As there are a limited number of tuition slots, spots are available through a lottery system. Parents/guardians will submit their preschooler’s name via the online application. Following the closing date, the names of the students will be pulled one at a time and entered on a list until all of the names have been drawn. The first names to be drawn will be contacted regarding the available tuition slots. When someone declines, the next person on the list will be contacted until all slots are filled. At that point, the remaining names will be considered the students on the Wait List. Once your child is accepted to the Blended Program, the parent/guardian must prove residency and complete paperwork and payment for registration by the deadline provided. If these items are not completed, the slot will be lost and the next person on the Wait List will be contacted. A child must be 3 years old by September 1st of the calendar year to be eligible for acceptance for that school year's program.

Tuition is $2090 annually or $220 per month September-May ($110 for August). There is a $110 deposit that will be applied to the August tuition and subtracted from the annual rate. Payments can be made in full by September 1 or through automatically scheduled monthly payments. Please note transportation is not provided for our blended program.

Applications are available on the HBR website until February 9th. For more information, please contact Megan Sheffer, Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent, at msheffer@hbr429.org or 815-286-7578.