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Early Childhood
Education Center

Our primary goal is to assist student parents attain their educational goals by providing appropriate care for their young children in a high-quality, convenient and affordable educational setting.

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ABOUT US

Our educational philosophy draws upon a variety of educational approaches to support each child’s optimum growth and development as well as make children’s learning visible.

To meet the needs of student parents, we are open year-round from 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday, and offer full and part-time childcare schedules. We operate four programs throughout the year to match the University’s four enrollment periods for fall and spring semesters and winter and summer sessions.

Our Mission
  • Our mission is to assist student parents with their goal of obtaining a college degree by providing them with high-quality, convenient and affordable childcare for their young children.
  • We are proud of the student parents’ ethnic, racial, cultural, religious and economic diversity on our campus and therefore welcome all families in our Center. To meet this goal, we define family to be two or more persons who share resources, share responsibility for decisions, share values and goals and have a commitment to one another over time.
  • We believe that the family is that climate that one comes home to. It is a network of sharing and commitment that most accurately describes the family unit regardless of blood, legalities, adoption or marriage.

Cost of Childcare

Childcare tuition is determined by using a sliding scale fee chart that considers student status, family size and income. Tuition is a contractual agreement calculated on a semester basis, and fee charts are reviewed and revised annually by the BOD. Current rates are approximately as follows:

Infant

Student Parent:
$6.06 – $10.14

Non-Student Parent:
$13.17

Toddler

Student Parent:
$5.56 – $9.30

Non-Student Parent:
$12.08

Preschool

Student Parent:
$4.49 – $7.51

Non-Student Parent:
$9.75

Low-income parents may qualify for part-time subsidized childcare through the Center’s two current federal and state grants: Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) and the State Preschool Program. CCAMPIS funds are provided through a grant with the U.S. Department of Higher Education and are intended to help low-income undergraduate parents of infants and toddlers earn a college degree.

State Preschool funds are provided to help parents from low-income families prepare their preschooler for kindergarten by providing their child with part-time childcare in a high-quality early childhood education program. Low-income parents may also be eligible for outside agency funding. To learn more about these programs you can contact our Office Manager.

Group Size Ratio

The Center is divided into two programs: Infant-Toddler and Preschool. The Infant-Toddler program has six classrooms for children between the ages of 4 months to 3 years. The Preschool program has three classrooms for children 3-5 years of age. Group size and adult:child ratios are key determinants of quality caregiving. Our ratios and group size adhere to NAEYC accreditation standards and exceed State licensing regulations.

1:3

6 Infants

4 – 11 Months Old
Rooms 1 & 4

1:4

8 Toddlers

12 – 23 Months Old

Rooms 2 & 3

1:5

12 2-Year-Olds

23 – 35 Months Old

Rooms 5 & 6

1:8

Preschool

3 – 5 Years Old

Rooms 7, 8 & 9

Meet Our Team

Erica Almaguer

Director of
ECEC

SHIRLEY NHAN

Office
Manager

LORELEI BALLESTEROS

Preschool Assistant Director

ROSALINDA ROSAS

Head
Teacher

HELEN VOONG

Head
Teacher

Irene Camarena

Head
Teacher

Victoria Leahy

Head
Teacher

Doriana Kaestner

Head
Teacher

Jennifer Munos

Head
Teacher

USDA Nondiscrimination

In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religious creed, disability, age, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a complainant should complete a Form AD 3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form (PDF, 293 KB), which can be obtained online, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 (PDF, 293 KB) form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

mail:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or

fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442;
email: program.intake@usda.gov  for inquiries related to discrimination complaints based on issues with USDA programs, access or equal opportunity.

For all SNAP related eligibility question/forms, please contact SNAP Eligibility
or local SNAP office – FNS State Directory

USDA is an equal opportunity provider.

Education Philosophy
We believe that children are natural researchers who are innately curious and intrinsically motivated to search for meaning by wondering, exploring and interacting with the world around them and engaging in relationships with others. We view children as authentic and competent beings full of unique gifts and potential. They are capable of constructing and representing their own understandings by questioning and problem-solving, and through creative expression.

We believe children learn best as part of a collaborative learning community of families, peers and educators. We recognize that when given the gifts of time to play, appropriate support and challenges, and a provocative environment rich in materials and possibilities, children can reach their full potential.
History
Campus-based childcare at SF State was first approved by the CSU Board of Trustees in January 1971, and Associated Student (AS) opened its doors to student parents of preschoolers on October 10, 1972. The cost of construction and operation of the AS Lilliput Childcare Center was paid for primarily by AS funds and a pledge of $16,000 from the Jesse and Clement Stone Foundation of Chicago secured by SFSU President S.I. Hayakawa.
In 1989, to ensure that no student parent be denied access to any CSU campus or have his/her academic progress impaired because of the lack of adequate, affordable campus child care services, the CSU Board of Trustees adopted the State-wide Policy on Campus Children’s Center Programs. This policy provided the extra funding needed to expand the AS Children’s Center’s (Lilliput) hours of operation, improve the quality of service and expand care to include infants and toddlers. Experienced early childhood educators with college degrees were hired to teach in each classroom and administer the program.
In 1996, the Center moved to a temporary facility on campus while a new, state-of-the-art facility was built. Thanks to the generous support of students voting in favor of a fee referendum, the new facility met the growing demands for childcare by doubling capacity. It also provides a model site for early childhood interns and research in high-quality responsive caregiving.
Governing Board
The Center is governed by the AS Board of Directors (BOD), an elected student body organization. In accordance with the AS procedures, the Center Director submits a proposed budget to the AS Executive Director each spring for review. The final budget is presented to the BOD for approval then forwarded to the University President for final approval. The Center Director provides the BOD with monthly reports and an annual report of the Center’s enrollment, expenditures and activities.

The Center operates on a non-discriminatory basis affording equal access to services without regard to actual or perceived sex, sexual orientation, gender, ethnic group identification, race, ancestry, national origin, religion, color, mental or physical disability, or age or on the basis of a person’s association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics. The Center’s curriculum refrains from religious instruction or worship.
Parent Involvement
The purpose of the Parent Group (PG) is to provide a forum for parents to discuss program procedures and evaluation, long-range planning and staff development. It serves as a liaison among individual classroom parents, Center administration and the AS Board of Directors towards the maintenance of our accredited campus-based facility. PG also supports classroom activities through fundraising efforts, and provides community outreach and advocacy on behalf of children, parents and teachers.

As a State funded and CSU mandated program, the Center recruits parent volunteers to serve as PG members. Members include 3 student parents from each program, 2 non-student parents, Center Director, 1 Program Coordinator, and 1 Head Teacher. PG meets monthly, and the agenda is posted in the Center lobby.
Licensing
The Center is licensed through the California Department of Human Services, Community Care Licensing Division, Title 5 & 22.

Licensing numbers:

Infant/Toddler: 380504941
Preschool:380504942
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