About our Center

OUR SHARED VISION...

We lead the way as an educational environment partnering with families, students, faculty, staff and the SDSU community to foster growth and promote lifelong learning.

MISSION...

We provide quality care and education to children, families, students and staff of the SDSU Community.

VALUES...

• Advocacy
• Diversity
• Nurturing Relationships
• Collaboration
• Individuality
• Social Responsibility
• Communication
• Health & Safety

PHILOSOPHY...

Wherever possible, we practice Continuity of Care with teachers moving up with their children all five years. Our program is influenced by the schools of Reggio Emilia. Our work is grounded in the theoretical principles of such scholars as Piaget, Vygotsky, Erikson, Montessori, and other noted researchers in Child Development. We use a child-initiated, project based curriculum model with active collaborations between children, teachers and families.

COMMITMENT TO FULL INCLUSION

The SDSU Children’s Center supports the right of every young child and his or her family, regardless of ability, to participate in a broad range of activities and contexts as full members of families, communities, and society.  The desired results of inclusive experiences for children and their families include a sense of belonging and membership, positive social relationships and friendships, and development and learning to reach their full potential.  Inclusion is one of the features of a high quality program.

ACCESS.  We strive to provide access to a wide range of learning opportunities, activities, settings and environments that support inclusion.

PARTICIPATION.  The adults promote belonging, participation, and engagement of children with and without disabilities in an inclusive setting in a variety of intentional ways.  Social-emotional development and behaviors that facilitate participation are critical goals of high quality early years inclusion, along with learning and development in all other domains.

SUPPORT.  In addition to access and participation, the Children’s Center participates in many levels of support in providing services to children and families.  Family members, practitioners, specialists, and administrators collaborate to determine the best knowledge, skills and dispositions required to implement and practice full inclusion.

NAEYC RECOMMENDATIONS

The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) recommends:

1. Creating high expectations for every child to reach his or her potential.
2. Developing a program philosophy on inclusion.
3. Establishing a system of services and supports.
4. Revising program and professional standards to incorporate high quality inclusive programs.
5. Achieving an integrated professional development system.
6. Influencing federal and state accountability systems to improve the quality and outcomes of inclusion.