Christy Poli, LCSW
Birth-to-3 & Pre-Kindergarten Coordinator
PH: 630-521-2304 ext. 4177
FX: 630-766-4114 
Email: cpoli@bsd2.org

Rosa Garza
Birth-to-3 & Pre-Kindergarten Secretary
PH: 630-521-2304 ext. 4175
FX: 630-766-4114 
Email:  rgarza@bsd2.org

Kim Jones
Head Start Coordinator
PH: 630-766-2602 ext. 4295
FX: 630-784-4877
Email: jonesk@metrofamily.org

Diana Vargas
Head Start Family Support
PH: 630-766-2602 ext. 4294
FX: 630-784-4877
Email: vargasd@metrofamily.org

Bensenville Early Learning Center at Tioga School
212 W. Memorial Rd.
Bensenville, IL 60106

Mission

The mission of District 2 Early Childhood Program is to build a collaborative partnership with the families we service to instill lifelong learning for themselves and their children.

Purpose

The purpose of District 2’s Early Childhood Program is to: 

• Assist families in understanding how to provide basic needs to their children;
• Provide safe, nurturing, and stimulating environments for children and their families so that they will develop and thrive;
• Develop a child’s sense of self, interaction with others, and social cooperation;
• Encourage experimentation, exploration, risk-taking, and pursuing individual interests;
• Establish the importance of the home-school family connection by demonstrating and modeling how the parent is the child’s first teacher;
• Challenge children’s complex intellectual capabilities.

The District’s Birth-to-3 Program operates year-round and is FREE to all participants. It provides the following to families of children ages birth to 3:

• Year-round and free to all participants who meet qualifying requirements
• Home visits with targeted educational supports based on family need
• Age-appropriate educational activities that promote healthy brain development and self-regulation skills
• Developmental assessments
• Referrals to community resources

The First Three Years!

The first three years of life are a period of incredible developmental growth. The experiences a child has during this time help build lifelong skills such as language, self-regulation, and social/emotional competence.

The mission of the BSD2 Birth-to-3 Program is to encourage warm, nurturing parent/child interactions that lay the foundation for school readiness, emotional competence, and positive mental health.

The Birth-to-3 Program uses the BabyTALK curriculum to promote healthy relationships during the critical years of child development and facilitates quality activities that strengthen the parent/child relationship.

Birth-to-3 Flyer

If you are having trouble viewing the document, you may download the document.

The District 2 Pre-Kindergarten Program serves students between 3 and 5 years old who demonstrate possible delays during play-based developmental screenings held throughout the year. 

Click here for more information about developmental screenings

The program is offered at the Bensenville Early Learning Center at Tioga School. It follows the District 2 calendar and offers morning and afternoon sessions Monday through Friday:

• Morning Sessions: 8:30-11 a.m.
• Afternoon Sessions: 11:45 a.m.-2:15 p.m.

Classes are comprised of a maximum of 20 students who are taught by at least two adults -- one teacher and one paraprofessional. 

Click here for information on Pre-Kindergarten Special Education Supports.

Click here for more information on the BSD2 Pre-Kindergarten Program.

The District 2 Preschool program serves students between 3 and 5 years old who demonstrate possible delays during play-based developmental screenings held throughout the year. 

The program is offered at the Bensenville Early Learning Center at Tioga School. It follows the District 2 calendar and offers morning and afternoon sessions Monday through Friday:

For pre-kindergarten students eligible for special education support, the District offers the following:

Blended Pre-Kindergarten Classrooms

These classrooms have a maximum of 18 students who are taught by at least two adults - one teacher and one paraprofessional. They include native English speakers, bilingual students, as well as students with and without disabilities.

Bilingual Blended Pre-Kindergarten Classrooms

These classrooms have a maximum of 16 students who are taught by at least two adults. They serve bilingual students with and without disabilities.

Self-Contained Special Education Classrooms

These classrooms have a maximum of 10 students, all with documented disabilities, who are taught by at least two adults -- one teacher and one paraprofessional.

Itinerant Services

Children come into Tioga School for an appointment to be seen by a clinician licensed in an area in which the child qualifies for services.  Examples include: speech therapy, occupational therapy, and social work. 

• Morning Sessions: 8:30-11 a.m.
• Afternoon Sessions: 11:45 a.m.-2:15 p.m.

Through its Early Childhood Education Services program Metropolitan Family Services of DuPage partners with District 2 to offer Head Start and Early Head Start classes at the Bensenville Early Learning Center located at Tioga School. These classes focus on meeting the individual needs of children and assisting families in obtaining skills and acquiring knowledge of resources to meet their needs. These classes are voluntary social services programs funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and eligibility for participation is determined by age and income. Children with special needs are welcome. 

Head Start

Head Start preschool classes provide comprehensive services to 3-, 4-, and 5-year-old children and their families. Children attend five day a week for six hours and 15 minutes a day. To enroll, a child must be 3 or 4 by September 1 of the program year. 

Early Head Start

Early Head Start serves pregnant women, infants, and toddlers from birth to 3 years of age and their families. Services are available year-round. Children attend five days a week for six hours and 15 minutes a day. 

Click here for more information on Metropolitan Family Services' Head Start and Early Head Start programs.

Have your preschooler screened this year!

Schools in the North DuPage Special Education Cooperative (NDSEC) screen children from birth to 5 years of age in the areas of vision, hearing, motor development, and language skills. Screening results are provided to the parent/guardian after the child has been screened by trained educators.

In District 2, these screenings are the first step in identifying children for District 2 Preschool classes and/or Metropolitan Family Services' Head Start classes offered through the Bensenville Early Learning Center located at Tioga School.

District 2's developmental screening dates for the 2024-2025 school year are as follows:

• August 12
• September 18 & 19
• December 6
• May 2 & 16

Call the Tioga School office at 630-766-2602 to schedule an appointment for your child’s screening.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a developmental screening?

During a developmental screening, trained educators will examine your child in the areas of gross and fine motor development, concepts, language, and communication. A nurse will also screen your child's vision and hearing.

Should I take my child to developmental screening?

Yes, particularly if you have concerns. The screening provides an opportunity for you to learn more about your child. 

What kind of information can you get from screening children who are so young?

Screening results will tell you how your child is developing. Depending on these results, your child may be eligible for District 2 Preschool classes and/or Metropolitan Family Services' Head Start classes offered through the Bensenville Early Learning Center located at Tioga School. You may also be given some suggestions for working with your child at home. These activities will
help prepare your child for school.

What is done with the screening results?

Screening results that suggest “no problems” are filed for the future. Children who score significantly below age level will be referred for more in-depth
testing. This testing will reveal more information about your child’s needs. Testing is provided free of charge with parents’ permission and participation.

Who should attend developmental screening?

All children from birth to 5 years of age who live within District 2's boundaries.

Do we have to pay?

No, District 2 partners with the North DuPage Special Education Cooperative (NDSEC) to make these free services available to all children living within the District's boundaries.

CARE stands for Cultivating Academic Readiness and Excellence

Cultivating Academic Readiness and Excellence is a volunteer program in which members of the District 2 community volunteer to help students refine skills they’re being taught by their classroom teachers. CARE volunteers give just one hour of their time each week to mentor K-8 students in reading, writing, math, science, social studies and other subjects.

On average, around 300 CARE volunteers provided approximately 7,000 hours of academic support. Together, they make a difference in the lives of more than 2,000 BSD2 students.

To volunteer with Cultivating Academic Readiness and Excellence or for more information, please contact Lara Schwarz, CARE  Coordinator & Community Liaison, at 630-766-2605, ext. 3202 or lschwarz@bsd2.org.