GENERAL PROGRAM INFORMATION
Family Developmental Center is a developmentally appropriate program of teacher and child-initiated activities that meets the needs of the child.

  • The program has a maximum attendance licensed capacity of 135, of which 28 are children with exceptional needs or chronic medical conditions.
  • Children are assigned to one of eight classrooms. Since some children attend part-time, approximately 150 children are enrolled at any one time.
  • The program is subdivided into Infant, Toddler and Preschool programs.
  • The Family Developmental Center also offers a mainstreamed early intervention program for children birth to age three years who have special needs.
  • Children may enter from two weeks to three years of age, and may remain in the program until the age of three years, eight months.

On-site special services: Nurse, Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Mental Health Therapy

Services are provided at no charge or on a sliding scale.

 

FDC's MISSION
Family Developmental Center provides developmental child care in an equitable, nurturing, challenging, and inclusive program which addresses the medical, educational and social needs of the child and family.


VISION STATEMENT
That all children entrusted in our care receive exemplary developmental care and learning opportunities to maximize their potential for successful entry into the educational system.


CARE VALUES

  1. The child’s family will be an integral part of the development of curriculum, activities and progress evaluation
  2. Services will be provided in a manner which respects the culture, language and ethnic values of each child
  3. Access to developmental child care services will be equitable and no family will be discriminated on the basis of race, religion, or national origin
  4. We are committed to an integrated program model which includes children with exceptional needs
  5. We will maintain a highly qualified, diverse and motivated teaching staff
  6. Every child will be provided the opportunity to learn, thrive and fully develop in all competencies at his/her own pace
  7. Administrative and programmatic leadership will work to identify and utilize all community, social service, medical and other resources available to support the children and families we serve.
  8. We also believe that every child can learn and succeed, but not on the same day in the same way.

HOURS OF OPERATION
The Center’s hours are from 7:30a.m. to 4:30p.m., Monday through Friday. Hours of attendance are individually assigned to each family based upon need and availability of staffing during the different hours of the day.

 

STAFF
We are proud of our multi-cultural team — out of 50 staff members, on average, about 85% identify themselves as belonging to an ethnic or racial minority. Our staff is fluent in non-English languages spoken by our children or their families, including: Spanish, Tagalog, Cantonese and Hindu dialects.

All classroom staff at FDC have one or more of the following teaching credentials from the Commission on Teacher Credentialing of the State of California:

  • Teacher Assistant                                                       
  • Associate Teacher
  • Teacher
  • Site Supervisor/ Program Director

Credentials are renewed every five years and require college courses, attendance at professional seminars, or a combination of both to total 120 hours of study.

Information on staff:

  • All have cleared a background check by the Department of Justice
  • All have a health screening on file and a negative TB test
  • All other staff, Administrative and substitute, have taken Early Childhood Education courses
  • Each classroom is directed by a Teacher or Associate Teacher

 

FDC’s   INFANT/TODDLER/PRESCHOOL RATIOS
FDC staffs the classrooms based on the regulations of Community Care Licensing and the State Department of Education.
The ratio in each classroom is:

  • Infants (Room 5)                                1 to 3
  • Toddlers (Room 2A, 2B, 6, 7, 8, 9)       1 to 4
  • Pre-school (Room 15)                         1 to 6

When there are special planned activities, additional staff may be assigned to rooms.
Also, the ratio changes when the children are asleep but a teacher or associate teacher is always nearby.
FDC uses the “primary caregiver model” and each child is assigned to one teacher in each classroom.

Room 5

Infants (birth through 18 months old)

Licensing Ratio Requirements

1:4 teacher/child

FDC’s Ratio

1:3 teacher/child

Room 2A- 2B- 6- 7- 8- 9

Toddlers (18 months through 36 months old)

Licensing Ratio Requirements

1:16 teacher/child

FDC’s Ratio

1:4 adult/child

Room 15

Preschool (36 months through Pre-Kindergarten)

Licensing Ratio Requirements

1:24 teacher/child

FDC’s Ratio

1:6 adult/child

Special Needs Children (Birth through Three)

Special Needs Children (GGRC/ MOLERA)

Licensing Ratio Requirements

1:4 teacher/child

FDC’s Ratio

1:3 adult/child