Our Program

Hours and location

• Center calendar

  CCLC at FIU follows FIU's academic calendar for holiday closings. In general, CCLC is typically closed during the following dates:

  Type of Closure	Day
  Semester/Spring breaks	August (2 weeks) December (2 weeks) January (1 week) March (1 week) April (1 week) June (1 week)
  Holidays	Labor Day Veterans Day Thanksgiving (2 days) Martin Luther King Day Memorial Day Independence Day

• Sample classroom daily schedule

  Schedules vary slightly by class

  Time	Activity Content
  7:45 – 8:30am	Family play
  8:30 – 8:45am	Transition to classroom
  8:45 – 9am	Getting together, forming community, calendar
  9 – 9:30am	Finger plays, action songs, social/emotional language development
  9:30 – 10am	Bathroom, morning snack, story telling
  10 – 11am	Art experience, independent play, developmental tasks
  11am – 12pm	Music, movement, science, outside play
  12 – 12:30pm	Lunch
  12:30 – 12:45pm	Clean-up
  12:45 – 1pm	Rest time set-up, bathroom, books
  1 – 3pm	Rest and relax
  3 – 3:30pm	Bathroom, afternoon snack
  3:30 – 5pm	Afternoon activities, outside play
  5 – 6pm	Playtime

Teacher-child ratio

Appropriate group sizes and ratios of teaching staff to children are maintained as per Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) and Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) Accreditation Standards.

Teacher-child ratios:

• Toddlers (2-year-olds) = 1:04
• Preschool (2.5- to 3-year-olds) = 1:06
• Pre-Kindergarten (4-year-olds) = 1:08
• Kindergarten (5-year-olds) = 1:10

Classroom staff

Classrooms are made up of both teachers and support staff.

• Teachers
  • Professionals holding either bachelor's or master's degrees in early childhood or elementary education with a specialty in early childhood
  • Florida Department of Children and Families Director's Credential Certificate held by several teachers
  • Valid State of Florida Teaching Certificate held by several teachers
  • Teaching staff combined has 75 years of tenure at the center
  • Completed Florida Department of Children and Families 45-hour training certification, certifications in CPR, first aid, and fire extinguisher training
  • Several teachers have served on a SACS Advanced Quality Assurance Review Team as well as presented at local and national conferences
• Support staff
  • Employed by the Children's Center
  • Teacher aides are often FIU students majoring in child development, early childhood/elementary education, and other related fields or hold a bachelor's degree
  • Completed or working towards Florida Department of Children and Families 45-hour training certification
  • Hold Certifications in CPR, first aid, and fire extinguisher training
  • Offer support to the teachers and children throughout the day
  • As the teaching staff work cycle ends each day, teacher aides assume responsibility for children

Parent involvement

Research has shown children do best when there is a connection between home and school. Children feel proud when parents show interest in their school and gives the child a sense of belonging. Parents at CCLC at FIU have the opportunity to be active in the following areas:

• Advisory board
• Annual program evaluation
• Classroom observation room
• Classroom visits
• Classroom participation
• Share talents with children
• Parent/Child Activities
• Parent family meetings
• Parent workshops
• Family socials
• Referrals
• Parent resource room
• Center Lending Library
• Computer access

• Parent classroom involvement
  • Classroom observation - MANDATORY parent involvement
    • Parents (father/mother, or both, legal guardian) mandatory classroom observation
    • 2 visits per year minimum
    • 2 hours per visit
  • Classroom participation
    • After initial adjustment period
    • Always welcome
    • Join child in classroom activities
    • Arrangements made with teacher

   

• Parent Advisory Committee (PAC)

  The Parent Advisory Committee is comprised of parents of currently enrolled children and is representative of various groups served, including students, staff, faculty and community. The PAC was established to advise the CCLC at FIU director, staff and the CCLC Board of Directors on policies procedures and program issues from the parent's perspective. Keep an eye out during the Fall semester for your invitation to apply or nominate.