State College Discovery Child Development Center

Program Features

Discovery offers a developmentally appropriate, inclusive, educational curriculum. Teachers plan a daily schedule of activities designed to enhance the social, cognitive, and physical development of the children.

Discovery offers a safe, child-centered environment where children are free to learn and explore. Every effort is made by the teachers to ensure that children will experience nurturing care in a stimulating, enriching atmosphere. At appropriate ages, field trips and special guests will be incorporated into daily activities.

Trained teachers provide high quality care. Teachers have a Bachelor’s Degree, Associate’s degree or Child Development Associate Degree (CDA) in education, child development and/or a related field and/or experience. They all attend at least 24 hours of professional development each year keeping them current in the latest research, practices and philosophies in early childhood education and child care.

Discovery is licensed by the PA Department of Human Services and participates in Keystone Stars, a voluntary quality initiative. The Child Development and Family Council participates in the Child and Adult Care Food Program, ensuring proper nutrition. Meals, snacks, and selected infant formula are provided.

Infant Program Highlights

The CDFC's infant early care and education is a child guided program for children ages 6 weeks to 18 months. Our experienced teachers have an extensive knowledge of child development.

To provide peace of mind for parents, one of our main educational goals in the infant room is to build a trusting relationship with the child and the family. The teacher, the parent, and the child work together to build a schedule that is tailored to the individual child's needs. When an infant feels secure that his/her environment will meet all essential needs, learning is enhanced and the child takes the lead in his/her exploration. Our teachers then become guides, and build upon your child's interests.

Daily activities are modified to the child's ability to allow every infant to participate. A variety of toys are accessible to engage your child, further their learning, and develop motor skills. Our teachers read books and sing songs to promote language development.

Learning the social skills needed to succeed later in life starts right from birth. Our teachers encourage the children to interact socially with the other infants in the room. The concepts of gentle touches, sharing toys, and emotional control are touched upon in daily activities. Parents receive daily information on how their child's day went, mood, napping, eating and other important information. Call for a tour, you won't be disappointed.

Toddler Program Highlights

The CDFC's toddler rooms are designed to support the little explorer within your child. The play focused program is designed for children 18 months to 3 years of age.

Toddlers are naturally curious, and our teachers promote this curiosity by providing a safe environment for your child to be themselves. Our toddler room is sectioned into learning areas to encourage different types of play that includes a block area, a dramatic play area, a library, and a manipulations area.

Our experienced teachers have an extensive knowledge of child development, allowing them to enhance your child's learning. With learning through play, our teachers help your child develop academic skills while playing. Colors, shapes, counting, and sorting are a few skills your child will learn while participating in our toddler room. Art projects are common activities that allow your child to express themselves through different mediums. Teachers sing songs and read books to promote language development.

Family pictures and children's art are hung around the rooms to also promote language development. We strive to build your toddler's confidence in themselves and their abilities. Parents receive daily reports about what their child was exploring that day as well as eating, mood and nap times. Call for a tour, you won't be disappointed.

Families may contract for full-time, partial full-time, or part-time care. Subsidized funding accepted.

Early Intervention placements are available.

We are a participating United Way Agency

Pre-K Program Highlights

Success in School Begins with Pre-K

By enrolling your child in a high quality pre-kindergarten, your child has a better chance of being ready for kindergarten and grade school. This strong early start in pre-kindergarten means they have a better chance of doing well in school, going on to college or career training, and getting a good job.
All Discovery Center Pre-K classrooms:

• have teachers with the education and expertise to teach young children

• use a curriculum that will help your child grow, academically and socially

• have learning centers addressing all areas of development

• regularly review your child's progress and choose teaching and learning activities that are best for your child

• help you and your child adjust to pre-kindergarten and smoothly move on to kindergarten

• offer a small class size so that your child can have plenty of one-on-one time with the teachers

The Discovery Child Development Center offers two Pre-K learning programs to serve children of all income levels:

Discovery Pre-K
Families can pay the full cost of care or apply for financial assistance (go to the Financial Assistance tab above for more information).

Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts
Established by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, is bringing quality half-day and full-day pre-kindergarten to 11,000 three and four year olds in Pennsylvania.

Each program offering PA Pre-K Counts classrooms will have their own guidelines, but PA Pre-K Counts is designed for children who:

• are between age 3 and until they are eligible for entry into kindergarten

• are at risk of school failure, either because of:

  • income (300% of the federal poverty level)
  • language (English is a second language)
  • special needs or risk factors

P A Pre-K Counts portion of the day
The PA Pre-K Counts portion of the day that is funded through Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts and is free to families; the program may charge for additional portions of the day that can be paid for privately or by subsidy (wrap-around care, etc.).

Enrollment

For enrollment information please contact:

Discovery Child Development Center
Sarah Scott
(814) 238-3202

Discovery@cdfc.org

For more financial assistance information, go to the Financial Assistance tab above.

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