ECFE

The mission of Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) is to empower families of young children, through education, to thrive where they live, play, and learn. ECFE provides education in child development and parent/child relationships, which sets the stage for children’s school success.

About ECFE
Contact Us

About ECFE

Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) recognizes that parents are their child’s first and most important teachers. ECFE offers parents hands-on learning experiences that will nourish a lifetime of teachable moments.

All ECFE classes are taught by licensed early childhood teachers and parent educators to provide the quality education parents are looking for.

Together, parents and children, newborn to kindergarten age, participate in activities and experiences that foster children’s social, emotional, cognitive, physical, and language skills.

ECFE teachers use the Parent Education Core Curriculum Framework and Early Childhood Indicators of Progress: Minnesota’s Early Learning Standards provided through the Minnesota Department of Education.

Contact Us

Navigation

Baby Shower and Infant Classes

How to Register

What to Expect in ECFE

Family Handbook and Media Release Forms

Transportation and Locations

ECFE-2025-26-Map.pngECFE provides limited transportation to support families who cannot otherwise attend ECFE. Transportation boundaries are limited and are only for Saint Paul addresses.

Bruce Vento Elementary
409 Case Ave E., 55130

Community Education Center (CEC) at J.J. Hill
988 Selby Ave., 55104

Early Childhood Hub West
1317 Charles Ave., 55104

Highland Park Elementary
1700 W. Saunders Ave., 55116

Highwood Hills Elementary
2188 Londin Lane E., 55119

St. Anthony Park Elementary
2180 Knapp St., 55108

West Side at 271 Belvidere
271 Belvidere St. E., 55107

Wheelock Early Learning Center
1521 Edgerton St., 55130

Home or Phone Visits

Do you have questions about parenting, your child’s development or how to help your child be ready for kindergarten? We will have an Early Childhood Family Education professional set up a time for you and your child to get support together. Visits can occur at your home, one of our school sites, a community location, or via phone/video.

Request a Visit HERE or Email ecfe@spps.org for details.

Parent Advisory Council (PAC)

Personal Phone Consultation

Program Fees and Procedures

Program Details and Policies

Registration opens in early June for the coming school year.
In-person registration is at Early Childhood Hub West.
The sliding fee scale can be found in the catalog. If you are in need of a scholarship, contact us and we will assist you.
Classes run the entire school year unless otherwise specified.
All adult participants must have a child age birth to kindergarten entrance.
Refunds can be made through the third week of class.
Participants may make tax-deductible donations to sponsor other participating families.
Preference is given to families residing in Saint Paul.
No one is turned away for their inability to pay.
Fees are collected upon registration for the full year of programming.
ECFE reserves the right to cancel classes with low enrollment. Schedules can be changed at any time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Resources

ECFE OUTREACH & COMMUNITY EVENTS

Join ECFE at these upcoming community events:

ECFE Night at the Children's Museum

Join ECFE for a FREE night at the Children's Museum. All current ECFE families are invited. School age siblings of ECFE families are also welcome. Free Family Nights have been offered to you through a MN children's Museum Legacy Grant.

We want all visitors to feel welcome and excited about visiting the museum. For those unfamiliar with the museum, we’ve created a video that walks through a typical visit and highlights what families can expect. This may be helpful to share with staff and families before their visit. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNWgaYy1niw

GETTING THERE:

Museum Address: 10 W 7th St, St Paul, MN 55101

METRO TRANSIT: We recommend using Metro Transit. It is FREE for ECFE Night at the Children's Museum. The museum is also close to many transit options, including the green line train and multiple bus routes. We recommend using Metro Transit’s Metro Trip Planner to find the most convenient route. GET YOUR FREE METRO TRANSIT PASS HERE.

DRIVING & PARKING: We recommend parking in the World Trade Center Parking Ramp (477 Cedar St, St Paul, MN 55101), which is connected to the museum via the skyway. Families should bring their parking ticket to the museum box office for validation to receive our discounted rate ($7.50 + tax for 3 hours and $1 for each additional 30 minutes).

ECFE free private event at Minnesota Children's Museum. February 24 from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

ECFE: 1317 Charles Ave., Saint Paul, MN 55104 I 651-793-5410 I ecfe@spps.org I. Facebook