The Goddard School in Post Falls is taking shape.

The early childhood education center aims to offer families greater educational choice while teaching children not what to think, but how to think, according to its owners.

“That’s really what I think early education should be about,” said Sara Carson.

Sara and Chris Carson, who grew up in the area and recently moved back to North Idaho, decided to bring the national brand to the region after enrolling one of their own children in a Goddard School in Baltimore. The school recently held a groundbreaking ceremony.

Sara said she and her husband were drawn to Goddard’s emphasis on curiosity and critical thinking.

“We are going to give children the tools to ask questions and learn while having fun, so they don’t even realize they’re learning,” she said.

After returning to North Idaho and searching for childcare options, the Carsons encountered lengthy waitlists at many providers and saw an opportunity.

“We didn’t see anything like Goddard in terms of that premier focus on early education,” Sara said.

She believes the years before grade school are critical for fostering a lifelong love of learning and preparing children for success in kindergarten and beyond.

The Post Falls location being built by Young Construction will serve children ages 6 weeks to 6 years. It will feature age-based classrooms designed by Goddard, developmentally appropriate learning materials, teacher-to-student ratios below Idaho state requirements and consistent staffing to help children build strong relationships with teachers.

The school on Fennecus Road is expected to be about 12,000 square feet and have about 150 children.

According to The Goddard School website, tuition rates are designed to reflect the care, education and experiences provided to students. Rates vary based on factors including a child’s age, program enrollment and attendance schedule.

The facility will include an indoor gym and climbing wall, separate playgrounds for younger and older children, and enhanced security measures, including secure-entry doors, fingerprint or passcode access, surveillance cameras and a staff-monitored check-in system.

“It’s definitely more of a learning institution. It is an early childhood education center,” Sara said. “There is a curriculum. We have parent-teacher conferences with families two to three times a year.”

She said one of Goddard’s distinguishing features is its “Wonder of Learning” curriculum, which was developed by educators, researchers, physicians and early childhood experts. The curriculum emphasizes curiosity, includes assessments of both academic and social-emotional development, and prioritizes communication with families through a companion app.

The app allows parents to receive real-time photos, view lesson plans, send messages directly to teachers and access daily reports detailing their child’s meals, naps and activities.

“We loved that part as parents,” Sara said. “So many times you have no idea what your child did during the day.”

Sara hopes the Goddard approach resonates with local families.

“If we’re introducing children to this type of learning model early on, they’re naturally going to bring that perspective into the classroom,” she said.

The Goddard School in Post Falls is scheduled to hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony in spring 2027.

    Officials break ground on Goddard School in Post Falls. From left: Marcus Mitzel, Young Construction; Tyler Wilson, Wilson REIS; Rob Rosebrook, Young Construction; Chris Carson, Co-Owner Goddard School North Idaho; Sara Carson, Co-Owner Goddard School North Idaho; Tommy Dittman, Lake City Engineering; Drew Dittman, Lake City Engineering; John Young, Young Construction; Lizzie Croyle, The Goddard School; and Benji Mahan, Wilson REIS.