Center for Early Learning open for child care enrollment at Columbus State
Campus News | Friday, May 17, 2024
Partners celebrate launch of child care center that will serve infants through 5-year-olds.
Officials received some expert help cutting the ribbon for Columbus State's Center for Early Learning.
To formally celebrate the completion of the Center for Early Learning and the start of enrollment in the child care center, Columbus State Community College and The Child Development Council of Franklin County, Inc. (CDCFC) today hosted community leaders for a ribbon-cutting at the facility, 320 N. Grant Ave.
Families with infants through 5-year-olds can now enroll at the center through CDCFC, the operator. The center will serve parents who are Columbus State students, college employees and members of the broader community. The Center for Early Learning opened for business in early May and is actively enrolling for the college’s summer semester.
“This is an innovative partnership between Columbus State and CDCFC in service of a critical community need,” said Columbus State Executive Vice President Rebecca Butler. “Columbus State’s investment in a leading-edge early childhood center, and our partnership with the Child Development Council is a step forward to address our region’s child care crisis. The center will be an affordable resource for students, employees and residents looking for high-quality child care.”
Thanks to support from Franklin County residents, the college was able to invest $3.5 million in renovations for the Center for Early Learning. In 2020, voters approved a bond issue for capital improvements that support Columbus State’s work to make Central Ohio stronger. The child care center is among the projects funded through bond proceeds.
The college is leasing the center at no cost to CDCFC, which is operating the center. Columbus State designed the facility to be integrated with its Early Childhood Development Education program, enabling students and faculty to engage with the center for learning and innovation purposes.
“We cannot wait to start serving children and families and meet their early care and education needs at the Center for Early Learning,” said Brenda Rivers, CEO of CDCFC.
The Center for Early Learning is launching with 94 initial openings for weekday enrollment, with discounted costs available based on a family’s income. Three classrooms are for infant-to-toddler and three for pre-K instruction, including one-way viewing rooms for clinical and academic observation.
Columbus State student-parents will be prioritized for enrollment, followed by employees. Any remaining availability will be open to the wider community, particularly those in the surrounding neighborhoods and downtown commuters.
Interested families can apply and learn more at www.cdcheadstart.org.
With scissors in hand, Columbus State President David T. Harrison looks on as three young students in the Center for Early Learning all take part in a ribbon cutting for the new facility.
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