Welcome
Welcome to the St. Charles Community College Child Development Center.
We look forward to partnering with you to meet the needs of your child and
your family.
History of the Center
The St. Charles Community College Child Development Center was founded
in January 1996 to meet the needs of our growing student body, faculty,
and staff. The CDC began serving 30 children 3 through 5 years of
age in one classroom of the Student Center Building. Construction
of the present site began in October 1995, and the building opened in May
1996 serving 88 children between the ages of 2 and 8. In 2000 the
building was
expanded to meet the growing demands of our campus community and
the general public, allowing us to serve 156 children from infancy through 8
years of age.
The Center strives to provide an environment
of high quality, developmentally appropriate early care, and education for
young children. The Center has been accredited by Missouri Accreditation
since 1998. We are recognized as a demonstration school for the National
Center for Project Construct. The Center collaborates with area agencies
such as Youth and Need, Early Head Start, and the Division of Family Services
to meet the
individual needs of each child and family.
The Center serves as a resource for area
professionals in early care and education. We also serve as a laboratory
site for students in early
education.
The Center will continue to look for ways
to serve the needs of our families as we grow.
Purpose
The St. Charles Community College Child Development Center is an accredited
not-for-profit child care and early learning facility designed to meet the
needs of young children by providing a high quality program within a safe
and nurturing environment.
The program strives to meet the needs of
families through flexible hours and scheduling. The Center serves
as a laboratory for students working in the fields of child development
and nursing.
Enrollment is open to all children
between the ages of 6 weeks to 8 years of age, regardless
of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry,
or sex, on a first-come, first-served basis.
Philosophy
The Child Development Center recognizes the uniqueness of each child by
providing a developmentally appropriate, child-directed learning environment
in which the child can construct his/her own knowledge through teacher guided,
hands-on experimentation and exploration in the areas of social, emotional,
physical, and cognitive development.
The Center also recognizes the
importance of family in the development of each child
and welcomes the involvement of parents and family
members in the program.
Licensing
 The Center is licensed to operate a full-day child care center for 156
children between the ages of 6 weeks through 10 years of age. Licensure
requires centers to meet health and safety guidelines established by Missouri
Department of Health and Senior Services. Licensing representatives visit
the center a minimum of two times per year. Licenses are renewed every
two years. The Child
Development Center’s license is located at the front entrance of the
building.
Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services
Eastern District
220 South Jefferson
St. Louis, Missouri 63103
Caron Ahlmeyer
314-877-0229
Accreditation
The Child Development Center has been accredited by Missouri Accreditation of Early Childhood Education Programs since 1996. Missouri Accreditation recognizes programs that are striving for excellence. It provides child care and education professionals with quality indicators that serve as guidelines for all aspects of program planning and implementation. These indicators are based on the strengths and needs of each child, knowledge of how children grow and develop, and developmentally appropriate program planning and guidance. Accreditation also serves as a guide to families who want to choose the best available program for their children.
The Child Development Center certificate of accreditation is located at the front entrance of the building. |
