Description

The Early Childhood Center is operated by the Department of Human Development and Family Studies in the College of Applied Human Sciences. Beginning in 1929, the Early Childhood Center was originally known as the Child Development Laboratory School. The purchase of the Washington School for the new CSU Early Childhood Center will allow for many benefits and improvements. The current program space of 5,000 square feet will be expanded to 17,000, while the current playground space will go from 6,500 to 22,000 square feet. The number of classrooms will also be improved from 3 to 7.

Having such improvements in facilities will allow for a number of program changes. The preschool-only program will become a full-age early childcare program covering 6.5 weeks to 5 years (pre-kindergarten). The program will continue to operate as a full-day, full-week, year-round program. The number of slots for families will be increased from 58 FTE to 100 full-time slots, or about 80 families to 150 families served, based on part-time options. All of this builds on our successful, recognized National Association for the Education of Young Children accredited curriculum.

Originally opening in 1919, the Washington School has served as the lab school in Poudre School District for many years. Incorporating these new facilities into the program will help to sustain the current service of about 400 CSU students each year in internships, practica, projects, observational learning and curriculum pedagogy, as well as open the door for unlimited potential for other experiences. Some examples are in the following areas:

• Human Development and Family Studies
• Food Science and Human Nutrition
• Health and Exercise Science
• Social Work and Occupational Therapy – to support inclusive environment
• STEM units (e.g., Physics, Computer Sciences) for learning laboratories
• Horticulture – gardening and food production
• Psychology – internships, observations
• School of Teacher Education and Principal Preparation – expand early childhood licensure spots
• Continuing Education – online learning lab for early childhood
• Fine Arts