General Information
The Center for Young
Children has a rich history of educating young children in College
Park, Maryland, for over fifty years. Accredited by the National
Association for the Education of Young Children, the Center
for Young Children (CYC) is a full day developmental program that
employs highly qualified teachers to educate and care for the
children of faculty, staff, and students at the University of
Maryland in College Park. As a laboratory school within the College
of Education and the Department
of Human Development, the CYC also participates as a member
of the Montgomery County Professional
Development School Network.
The CYC's mission
is three-fold:
- To educate and
care for children in a developmentally appropriate manner based
on knowledge of early childhood education. The CYC provides
a core educational program as well as before and after school
care for children enrolled in preschool through kindergarten.
- To serve as a demonstration
school for training and preparing undergraduate students for
teaching and other related professions.
- To serve as an
observation and research facility.
The Center for Young
Children is dedicated to providing an exemplary early childhood
program and committed to fostering the continued growth and development
of each child on a cognitive, physical, emotional, and social
level. Since children learn best through active involvement, the
CYC provides an enriched, stimulating, and safe environment that
encourages exploration and experimentation. Children are guided
to question, hypothesize, solve problems, and express themselves
creatively. Teachers at the CYC respect and understand the uniqueness
of each child.
The CYC operates a
full day program from 7:45 am to 5:30 pm, Monday through Friday,
September to June. Currently a part-time program is also offered from 8:30
am to 12:30 pm, Monday through Friday, September to June.
Preschool classrooms at the CYC include children ranging from three to five years of age.
Research shows that multi-age groupings benefit both younger and older students in the classroom. According to Dr. Lilian Katz, an international leader in early childhood education, "Mixed-age grouping resembles family and neighborhood groupings, which throughout history have informally provided much of children's socialization and education (from The Case for Mixed-Age Groupings in Early Education, 1990)."
An optional summer
camp program is available for six weeks during June, July, and
August each year.
The CYC bases its
curriculum on both teacher knowledge and what is meaningful for
each child. Curriculum emerges from a collaboration between teacher
direction and children’s interests.
Some of the goals
of the curriculum are:
- To encourage children
to be actively involved in the learning process.
- To prompt children
to think creatively.
- To aide children
in asking questions and discovering answers.
- To encourage children
to become curious and enthusiastic learners.
- To support children
in experiencing success and developing self-confidence.
- To promote appropriate
social behavior.
The CYC's strength
lies in its faculty. Degreed teachers
are in each classroom.
All teachers at the
Center for Young Children must have an enthusiasm for teaching
young children, a bright and curious intellect, a basic foundation
in child development, a belief in the power of observation, and
a quest for the teachable moment for each child.
In keeping with the
CYC's mission, undergraduate students in UMCP's early childhood
education program are placed at the school for various practicum
experiences. Their on-going presence is an acknowledgement of
the CYC's strong teacher training component.
Additionally, staff
at the CYC are involved in many
professional development activities off campus. The CYC also hosts
institutes and workshops for both its own staff and other professionals.
Children enrolled
in the CYC participate in research studies
that increase information about how children learn and develop.
Many studies are observational in nature and do not require the
child to leave the classroom. Other studies require individual
children's participation, usually outside the classroom. Parents
must approve their child's involvement in such studies.
Every effort is made
to protect the welfare and rights of children. All research conducted
at the Center is reviewed and approved by the Director.
Assurance
of Excellence
The Center for Young Children has achieved
national accreditation by the National
Association for the Education of Young Children. This organization recognizes outstanding early childhood programs
which meet and exceed national standards of quality.
The Center is licensed by the division of Early Childhood Development within the Maryland State Department of Education (formerly the Child Care Administration).
The kindergarten program is state certified and in
compliance with the standards for such programs in public
institutions.
|
 |
Parent
Participation
Parents are the first
teachers of their children, and as such, are encouraged to participate
in the education of their children. While at the CYC, parents
may share talents, work experiences, ideas, skills, and other
interests. A service requirement assures that all families contribute
to this sense of home-school partnership.
In addition, an active
PTA promotes a unique CYC community spirit
through fund raising, social, and outreach efforts.
Enrollment
and Application
Enrollment at the
CYC is open to children, ages 3 through 5 (kindergarten), whose parents are faculty,
staff, or students affiliated with the University System of Maryland. Applications from the community will
be considered if a space cannot be filled by a University affiliate. Please see the admissions page for more specific information about the application and enrollment process.
|
