The Child Development Laboratory School
While the CDLS is dedicated to quality programs that help children learn and grow, it also provides NCC's early childhood education students with a forum for observing and practicing the methods and theories taught in our academic program.  These students are overseen by a staff of highly qualified and experienced professionals with degrees in early childhood education.  The staff includes a director, lead teacher, five teachers and two assistant teachers. 

The philosophy of the CDLS is to work with the individual needs of each child.  Every child is helped to grow emotionally, physically, intellectually and socially through meaningful learning experiences designed for that individual child.  The CDLS stresses emotional and social education as a key part of every child's development.

NCC's Child Development Center and Laboratory School (CDLS) fulfills two primary purposes.  The CDLS serves the community by offering high quality child-care programs that foster children's development in a warm and nurturing environment, and it serves as a learning center for college students planning careers in this field. 

Every child enrolled in the CDLS is assigned to a group teacher who is primarily responsible for meeting that child's needs.  Children are encouraged to make their own choices and to participate in self-initiated activities along with more structured, planned ones.  The classroom environment is welcoming, stimulating and challenging.

The CDLS is open five days a week, as listed below:          

Tuition agreements with each family detail payment schedules and deposit requirements.  Scholarships are based upon need and are available to eligible NCC students.  The CDLS is open to children between six months and five years of age.  Placement priority is given to children of NCC students, faculty and staff.  Community children are enrolled on a first-come, first-served basis.  Each child must be enrolled for a minimum of 12 hours per week. 

The Child Development Laboratory School is dedicated to the memory of Sarah Kathryn Croaning, a former NCC faculty member and Director of the CDLS.  By honoring Professor Croaning's  dedication and commitment to early childhood education, we are ever reminded that there is nothing more important than the caring and teaching of young children.