Butte College Main Campus
Director: Darrell Whitacre
(530) 895-2865
Hours: 7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday - Friday

For enrollment information or to be placed on the waiting list contact Tammy Bowling, CDC Secretary (530) 895-2865.

When children are cared for at Butte College, not only do they receive the highest quality care, they immediately become part of a nurturing and creative community.

The partnership among highly skilled college instructors, certified master teachers, instructional assistants, and the parents of the young attendees, creates a rich nurturing and comprehensive learning experience.

Mission Statement
The Butte College Child Development Center (CDC) strives to provide high quality care that is respectful and responsive for children by developing a partnership with the parents and families; that promotes optimal growth for their child, while supporting student learning in a variety of disciplines.

Philosophy
Butte College provides a model laboratory school experience at the Child Development Center (CDC) for a variety of college students. The CDC offers an early childhood program that fosters the social, emotional, intellectual, language, creative, and physical growth of young children. We provide opportunities for children to explore, discover, and experiment with a wide variety of materials in a safe and emotionally responsive environment.

For children, our goal is to provide a play-based curriculum which is designed to teach the whole child. This curriculum allows children to learn self-help skills, practice social skills, enrich their early language and pre-reading skills, and foster creative expression in a caring and trusting environment. The teachers respect each child's unique need to develop at his/her own pace.

Our teachers provide a supportive and enriching environment which builds close relationships with our center's families. We encourage positive parent-child interaction, parent involvement, and consistent care between school and home.

Waitlist/Enrollment
The Child Development Center offers programs for children one to five years old.

Child and Family Eligibility
The CDC operates on a nondiscriminatory basis, affording equal treatment and access to services without regard to race, color, gender, religion, national origin, or ancestry.  The CDC is open to the Butte-Glenn communities, in addition to children of Butte College students and employees.

Pre-enrollment 
• Must submit Waitlist Application
• Must provide proof of income eligibility 
• Must provide registration fee
• Must provide forms as required by the State of California
• Must attend Parent Orientation

Tuition
The CDC has set tuition based on the average price of child care in Butte County.  Scholarships are available to student who meet standards set by the Child Care Access Means Parents In School (CCAMPIS) grant provided through the US Department of Education.

Curriculum
The CDC offers an array of individual and group activities every day. Through participation in self-selected activities, children have the opportunity to develop initiative, make decisions, and assume responsibility for their choices. A common theme that runs throughout the curriculum emphasizes the richness of cultural diversity issues, e.g., gender equity, ethnicity, ageism, and special needs.

A typical day at Butte's CDC includes the following activities, among many others:

• Art
• Cooking and Food
• Dramatic Play
• Health and Safety
• Language Arts
• Math
• Music
• Science
• Large and Small Motor Skills
• Water, Sand, and Mud
• Woodworking

Meals and Snacks
The CDC provides two highly nutritious meals each day and an afternoon snack.  The food program is funded by the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and the meals are prepared on-site by a food service worker. The menus have been develop through staff and parent input to meet the USDA and California Department of Education guidelines and recommendations.

Meals are served family style and children are encouraged to serve themselves when they are able. Children also learn about nutrition during mealtimes.  Meals are intended to be a time for relaxing conversation and good nutrition.

In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability. To File a complaint of discrimination, write to: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

The CDC also works in collaboration with the Butte County Fit Thru 5 program.  Butte County Fit thru 5 is a local collaborative funded by the Butte County First 5 Children and Families Commission to enhance opportunities for nutrition and physical activity for young children ages 0-5 in Butte County.

 Child Development Center Staff
Director: Darrell Whitacre
Secretary: Tammy Bowling
Bumblebee Teachers: Pam Foreman and Steven Hanson
Butterfly Teachers: Barbara Roberts and Blanca Varela
Caterpillar Teachers: Heidi Davis and Dia Kimm
Lady Bug Teachers: Dede Ferris and Marsha Missall
Kitchen: Dorothy Deakins