Children's Center & Lab School
It is the Mission of the Cabrillo College Children's Center & Lab School to "Transform the Future Together, From Birth to Adulthood" by offering a high-quality and diverse early care and education learning environment and a strong Early Childhood Workforce Development Program. The Center embraces a collaborative culture that is respectful, supportive, inclusive and embraces the diversity of all children, families, students and the community.
Thank you for your interest in the Cabrillo College Children's Center & Lab School. Our website provides you with important information on our mission, philosophy, guiding principles, program offerings, how to apply for services, our staff and classrooms as well as family resources.
Who We Serve
6500 Soquel Drive Aptos, Calif. 95003, Building 1500 Cabrillo College Lower Campus
The Children's Center offers services and opportunities to four primary groups:
Infants, toddlers & preschool age children (ages 6 months through 5 years of age or entry into kindergarten) are provided with a high-quality developmentally appropriate early care & education program, that supports their social-emotional, cognitive and physical development, to become lifelong learners. We emphasize inclusion and diversity in all aspects of our services.
Cabrillo College student parents (primarily women) are provided with no or low-cost subsidized child care services to attain their academic and/or career education goals, leading to an AA/AS Degree, Career Education (CTE) Certificate, and/or transferring to a 4-year university. Cabrillo College staff and faculty, as well as community members, are welcome to enroll in our program.
Early Childhood Education (ECE) students are provided with high-quality intensive workforce development training and mentoring, in one of the only “hands on” Laboratory Schools in our region. ECE students receive an aligned, consistent, comprehensive, research-based program of study in early education that reflects the state’s educational goals for young children.
Community members, students and observers enrolled in surrounding colleges (UCSC, SJSU, CSUMB) who are studying and researching human development, psychology, anthropology, nursing and other related professions, are provided with non-intrusive child observation opportunities. *In previous years we have hosted visitations of over 5,000 visitors in our observation booths.
Note: In addition, we are proud to participate in a learning exchange opportunity where we host ECE students from Bunkyo, Japan to observe and volunteer in our program for two-weeks, and in turn Cabrillo ECE students have the opportunity to visit early learning programs in Bunkyo , Japan on an annual basis to .