Cerritos College Child Development Center achieves 5-star rating for excellence in care and education
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 12, 2025
Media Contact: Aya Aoki; Public Relations and Communications
NORWALK, Calif. – March 12, 2025 – 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.”
About the Cerritos College Child Development Center: Located on the Cerritos College campus, the Child Development Center offers early childhood education and care for infants through preschoolers. It serves student-parents, employees, and the community while also training future educators. Learn more at www.cerritos.edu/child-development-center.
About Cerritos College: Cerritos College serves as a comprehensive community college for southeastern Los Angeles County. Communities within the college’s district include Artesia, Bellflower, Cerritos, Downey, Hawaiian Gardens, La Mirada, Norwalk, and portions of Bell Gardens, Lakewood, Long Beach, Santa Fe Springs and South Gate. Cerritos College offers nearly 300 degrees and certificates in nine divisions. Annually, more than 5,000 students successfully complete their course of studies, and enrollment currently averages 21,000 students. Visit Cerritos College online at www.cerritos.edu.
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