Program

  

     The Children’s Center is a state-licensed provides a stimulating learning experience for children 18 months to 5 years old.  The program emphasizes the development of positive self-concept and is designed to facilitate each child’s social, emotional, physical, and cognitive growth.

      The Children’s Center offers toddler, preschool and Pre-K programs and consists of 4 classrooms.  The staff for each class includes one head teacher, two assistant teachers.  Because the program is one of inclusion, children with special needs such as speech delays and developmental lags participate in all classroom activities with help from the teachers and therapists with whom they are working.  The Center also serves as a laboratory for students wishing to do an internship or practicum observing young children in connection with coursework and independent study.

      Penny Rose is the Administrative Director of the Children’s Center. Cindy Quiroa is the Educational Director.  There is a Board of Directors comprised of Purchase College faculty, staff, students, and community parents which is the governing body.

     The Children’s Center is open Monday through Friday from 8:00am – 5:15pm and operates 11 months of the year, following the college’s calendar.  A full day program is available two, three or five days a week.  Three calendar choices are offered:  academic (32 weeks until the end of the academic year), modified (42 weeks through the end of June), and extended (47 weeks through the last week of July).  Tuition for Purchase College affiliates is based on a sliding scale according to income and community families pay a flat fee.

     Although the college provides the Children’s Center with space and maintenance privileges, the Center is totally self-dependent for funding.  It is a not for profit organization.