Child Development Center achieves 5-star rating for excellence in care and education

The Cerritos College Child Development Center (CDC) recently earned a Tier 5 rating from Quality Start Los Angeles (QSLA), the highest distinction in the county-wide initiative that supports early learning providers in improving care for children from birth to age five. QSLA is part of the statewide Quality Counts California initiative, which encompasses all 58 counties. 

For over 50 years, the college’s CDC has provided high-quality childcare to the community, including student-parents and employees, while also serving as a laboratory school for training future early childhood education teachers. Inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach, the center embraces child-centered social constructivism, allowing children to build knowledge through daily experiences with parents, teachers, peers, events, and objects in their environment. The center is designated as an Outdoor Classroom Demonstration Site for Los Angeles County, and its playground area features a certified wildlife habitat.

“Our rating informs families about how our program measures up to the quality standards established by the state of California,” said Carolyn Lapitan, interim director of CDC. “These standards align with our mission to consistently provide a safe, positive, and engaging learning environment for the children in our care.”