Early Childhood Screening

What is Early Childhood Screening?

Early Childhood Screening is a FREE check of a child's hearing and vision, weight and height, health history, immunizations, speech and language, general development and motor skills. Minnesota law requires Early Childhood Screening before a child can enter kindergarten. 

Early Childhood Screening is NOT a readiness test for kindergarten, and the results will not affect your child's ability to enroll in kindergarten. Screening identifies children who may have health or developmental concerns and allows for appropriate assistance as early as possible. This assistance helps children get off to a good start when they enter school. Parents gain information about their child's health and overall development at screenings, in addition to available resources that help children grow.

Schedule a Screening Appointment

2023-24 Screening Dates

All screenings are held at St Mark Church (1 North Road, Circle Pines, MN 55014) unless otherwise noted.

• Oct. 5, 2023
• Nov. 1, 2023
• Dec. 7, 2023
• Jan. 4, 2024
• Feb. 1, 2024
• March 7, 2024
• April 4, 2024
• May 2, 2024

If you have concerns about your child’s development you would like to have addressed sooner, please visit HelpMeGrowMN.org to complete an online referral form. This will send your information to your school district’s early childhood special education office, and a staff member will contact you to discuss your concerns and schedule an evaluation.

Screenings are available by appointment only. Do these dates not work for your schedule? Early Childhood Screening can be completed by another Minnesota school district, the Head Start program, the Department of Public Health, or county-based Child and Teen Checkups. If your child is screened elsewhere, please be sure to forward a copy of the screening summary to Centennial Early Childhood.