The Early Learning Center is a quality care and learning environment for young children, pre-service teachers, and teacher educators. Affiliated with the Department of Child and Family Studies, the center provides a laboratory setting for the investigation of children’s development in context and the growth of informed teaching practices. Highly trained program staff work in collaboration with faculty to facilitate interdisciplinary research, academic programs for undergraduate and graduate students, and early education programs for young children while honoring a commitment to outreach, advocacy, and the development of public policy.

Supported by parent fee revenues and university funds, the ELC provides learning environments for young children six weeks through kindergarten as well as the academic support of more than one hundred students enrolled annually in child and family studies coursework and educators from the broader community of early childhood education. Students and faculty from additional disciplines, including audiology and speech pathology, nursing, psychology, and special education, also are served by the ELC and may contact us for information and planning. Please see the researchers page for more information.

Get on our waiting list!

To be placed on our waiting list, fill out the program application and submit the $30 application fee payment online. A separate application is needed for each child.

Are discounts available for faculty or students?

We do not offer discounts for faculty or students.

Are scholarships available?

The Early Learning Center is proud to provide tuition assistance to families of children with disabilities enrolling in the ELC. Lilly’s Hand is used to provide individual assistance to families and support inclusive educational experiences for children with and without disabilities at the ELC.

When are enrollment decisions made?

The enrollment process typically begins in early spring to prepare for the upcoming school year.