Welcome to City Colleges of Chicago’s Child Development Laboratory Schools

Mission

The Child Development Laboratory Schools are committed to advancing high-quality, research-based early learning for preschool-aged children (2–5) and their families in Chicago. We promote inclusive, developmentally appropriate practices, support student training at City Colleges of Chicago, and collaborate with families to foster equity, excellence, and community engagement.

Why Choose Us?

Enroll your child (ages 2–5, depending on location) in our Child Development Laboratory Schools and give them a strong foundation in social, emotional, and academic development.

We understand that every child is unique and growing at their own pace, with diverse language skills, cultural backgrounds, and learning styles. Our classrooms are designed to reflect and support this diversity.

Our teaching strategies are aligned with the Head Start Early Learning Framework and the Illinois Early Learning Standards, and we are fully licensed by the State of Illinois

What We Offer

Our schools provide high-quality preschool care that embraces diversity in all its forms, including gender, culture, language, ethnicity, ability, race, and economic background.

Program Benefits:

• Safe and supportive learning environments
• Small class sizes for personalized attention
• Year-round enrollment options
• Financial assistance for eligible families

Our Approach

We are dedicated to:

• Building strong partnerships with families to support each child’s healthy development
• Offering comprehensive services and programming that promote school readiness
• Supporting bilingual development by nurturing a child’s first language
• Collaborating with parents of children with disabilities to meet individual needs
• Ensuring full access and participation for children with disabilities by adapting environments and instruction