Fresno City College’s Child Development Center is celebrating its 25th anniversary. The center provides professional lab training for students who are seeking a teaching career. Each year, the center serves 82 children between the ages of two and five, as well as 300 lab training students each semester. The center plans on expanding classrooms adding infants to the program.

Many child development courses require students to spend time observing children. As students observe children they can apply their observation to what they’re learning in class. FCC’s Child Development Center serves more than 300 lab students each semester.

Some students attend FCC Child Center only because it’s part of the requirement to pass the class. But there are other students who are earning a degree in child development. The center also has internship students who work over 16 hours weekly. At the end of the internship students receive a certificate that is a required to obtain a permit to teach preschool.

Eva Edwards, a Fresno Unified employee, worked at the center two summers ago as a teacher’s assistant with special needs children. “I loved working there, the center is well structured,” she said. Edwards said that she learned a lot in her short period working at the center.

A common misconception is the belief that the center’s role is to serve students as a child care provider. “The community knows we are a lab school,” said Raquel Ramirez Ochs, director of the center. “The state sees us the same way as well.”

Ochs says that the center isn’t in the category of a child care center, but is in the category of a lab school. They have been in that category since 1985. “But all the research say that success in college is quality child care,” Ochs added.

“If you have quality child care rather on campus or around the neighborhood, or whatever, it brings success in college,” she said.

The center provides child care to students, faculty, staff and members of the community as space allows. Staff and faculty are not granted a discount. Fees vary for each family.

The center is open Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. half-day rates for toddlers is $23 per day and $28 full-day. For preschool, rates are $20 half-day and $25 full-day.

Low-income families may qualify for free child care through certain state-funded programs. A family may qualify for only some percentage and will pay a fee each month.

The center accepts application during the months of June and December. The waiting list counts with more than 150 children and the waiting list can take up to two years to enroll a child.

The center has a well-qualified staff. The teachers have B.A’s in child development and the teachers’ assistants have A.A’s or B.A’s as well. The directors of the center both have a Masters degree.

Tina Olivares is a parent of a 4 year daughter. Her daughter started the center in the beginning of January. “I love the center,” said Olivares. “My daughter‘s social skills have improved in the little time she has attended.”