The Southeast Community College Child Development Center’s mission is to provide quality early childhood education and care to children from 6 weeks through 12 years by meeting the needs of SCC students, faculty, staff, and the community. The Center serves as a practicum site for the Early Childhood Education program ensuring the most current, and evidence based, practices are modeled for professionals entering the early childhood education field. An emphasis is placed on creating an educational and supportive community for children and families to thrive.
The Center is nationally accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). The Center also participates in Nebraska Step Up to Quality, a quality rating and improvement system administered by the Nebraska Department of Education.
The Center is located on the Lincoln Campus at 8800 O St., Lincoln, serving SCC students, faculty, staff and community members. The Center is open Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and is closed for most major holidays, as well as one week during Winter Break. The program serves children ages 6 weeks through 5 in a year-round program and school-aged children, kindergarten through age 12, during select Lincoln Public School non-school days and over Summer break.
The Center participates in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP ) through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, ensuring that well-balanced meals are served and that good eating habits are taught in the program setting. Children are served breakfast, lunch, and an afternoon snack daily that meet the nutritional requirements that are determined by the CACFP.
The Center values the importance of positive developmental opportunities and relationships in the formative early childhood years as establishing a child’s long-term success. Evidence-based play practices and educational experiences are emphasized with attention to developing children’s physical, cognitive, social and emotional, and linguistic development, as well as approaches to learning and problem-solving skills. The teacher’s role in the classroom includes nurturing, guiding, and facilitating experiences with the children through education and care. Planning and implementing learning experiences that are responsive to each child's interests, strengths, and needs is key at the SCC Child Development Center.
- We believe a child’s environment has the greatest influence on learning.
- We believe in providing children with an overabundance of positive reinforcement.
- We believe it is imperative to instill good educational and moral foundations for young children, enabling them to grow and develop into the best, most productive individuals possible.
- We believe diversity in our program is one of our greatest strengths, as the best way to learn and develop is from experiencing life hands on with each other.
- We believe our teachers enhance development and learning. From birth, a child’s relationships and interactions with adults are critical determinants of development and learning.
- We believe in treating children as individuals, allowing them to develop an identity inclusive of emotional well-being, individualism and self-worth.
- We believe in cognitive development: intentional learning environments, age appropriate classrooms, hands on learning, sensory development, experiences and learning from the world, development of learning styles and Kindergarten readiness.
- We believe in physical development: healthy living, development of gross and fine motor skills and safety.
- We believe a collaborative community with our families is an integral piece of a child’s success
Enrolling
Interested families may submit a Waiting List Application along with a $10 non-refundable fee to be placed on the SCC Child Development Center’s wait list. When an opening is available, the Director of the Center will contact the family. To accept and secure the opening a $135 refundable deposit is due ($75 deposit for subsequent children.). Next steps will include the receipt of the family handbook, child enrollment packet, along with providing the Center with a copy of the child’s immunizations.
Enrollment Period
- Children of SCC students: Required to be enrolled for the entire semester. They are not required, but can opt, to be enrolled during break periods.
- Children of SCC faculty and staff: Required to be enrolled yearly. They are not required to be enrolled during the 4-week break between the Spring and Summer Quarter. The children must be enrolled for all other weeks the Center is open.
- Children of community members: Required to enroll yearly for the entire 50 weeks the Center is open.
Children can be unenrolled with a two-week written notice. If you want to re-enroll at the Center you will be required to go on the waiting list.
Tuition Payments & Financial Assistance
Tuition may be paid weekly or monthly through a bank or credit/debit card automatic withdrawal, or Title XX (State subsidized child care assistance). Applications for Title XX may be submitted to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. SCC students may qualify for up to a 50% reduction in services through the CCAMPIS (Childcare Access Means Parents in School) grant.
CDC Weekly Tuition and Fees / Child Care Rates
- Step Up to Quality is where Nebraska parents find quality-rated child care and early childhood education.
- Nebraska We Care for Kids
- Nebraska DHHS Child Care For Parents
- Nebraska DHHS Choosing Child Care for Your Children
- National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
- How Play Connects to Learning (NAEYC )
- PBS Kids For Parents
Registration for summer camp will open in late January 2024. Please check back for more camp session information at that time.
Contact the Camp Coordinator, Katie Zabel, at kzabel1@southeast.edu or 402-437-4250 with any questions.
The Southeast Community College Child Development Center (8800 O St.) hosts a series of Fall, Winter and Spring mini camps on select days that community schools may not be in session. These day camps give children the opportunity to participate in fun, hands-on activities, crafts, games and field trips on select days. Breakfast, lunch and snack are provided.
Children of SCC employees, SCC students and community members are invited to participate. All children ages 5 through 12 are welcome to attend. Children must currently be enrolled in, or have completed Kindergarten, to participate. Families may register for select mini camp days, and do not need to register for all days offered.
Cost
Mini Camps Tuition: $50 per day ($25 deposit is applied to the full tuition amount). Register for 8 or more mini camp days and receive one day ($50 credit) free. Register for all 5 days during Spring Break (March 11-15, 2024) and receive a weekly rate of $210.
Mini Camps Deposit: $25 per each day registered. Deposits are non-refundable. (Note – the deposit for Spring Break full week registration will be $50).
Camp Hours
7:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. (planned camp activities and fieldtrips occur between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.)
Camp Dates
2023 Fall/Winter Camp Dates:
Friday, October 13
Monday, October 16
Tuesday, October 17
Monday, November 27
2024 Spring Camp Dates:
Wednesday, January 3
Thursday, January 4
Friday, January 5
Friday, February 16
Monday, February 19
Monday, March 11
Tuesday, March 12
Wednesday, March 13
Thursday, March 14
Friday, March 15
Friday, March 29
Friday, April 26
Tuition Assistance
Students who have been awarded the CCAMPIS child care grant receive significant summer and mini camp tuition assistance. Contact Katie Zabel at kzabel1@southeast.edu or 402-437-2450 for CCAMPIS grant pricing and further information.
Pell eligible students may find more information and apply for the CCAMPIS (Child Care Means Parents in School) grant here.
Camp Cancellation and Refund Policy
We encourage all families to carefully plan out their summer and mini camp needs prior to registration. Please take into consideration family vacations, other camps, time spent with family members, etc., so that you only register for the weeks and/or days that your child will need care.
Deposits for both summer and mini camps are non-refundable. The tuition balance for all camps is due the Monday of the week of Camp, or may be paid in advance. Account information must be provided to complete the registration process. Absences or unapproved cancellations will be charged to the account information on file as per the tuition policy. Additionally, advanced payments are non-refundable for absences or unapproved cancellations.
For mini camps, tuition refunds (minus the $25 per day deposit) will be issued (or will not be billed) with a 14-day written or emailed notice provided to the Camp Coordinator or Center Director.
For summer camps, tuition refunds (minus the $50 a week deposit) will be issued (or will not be billed) with a written or emailed notice provided to the Camp Coordinator or Center Director on or before June 1, 2024.
(The SCC CDC Director may approve full or partial refunds or credits of Camp registration fees, or tuition, in extraordinary circumstances, including family or medical emergencies)
Questions?
Contact the Camp Coordinator, Katie Zabel, at kzabel1@southeast.edu or 402-437-4250, or stop by the Child Development Center at 8800 O St., Lincoln, NE.
Register Online Today!
Early Childhood Education and Care Opportunities
Scholarships provided to Southeast Community College students by the U.S. Department
of Education CCAMPIS Grant.
Pell-eligible SCC student parents with children ages 6 weeks through 12 years of age are eligible to apply. The grant will assist in reduction of tuition for child care and early childhood education, school age Summer camps, and/or school age mini-camps.
Southeast Community College Child Development Center has been awarded the CCAMPIS (Childcare Access Means Parents in School) Grant from the United States Department of Education. Pell-eligible SCC students who are awarded the grant will receive a reduction in early childhood education and care tuition, up to 50%. Applicants will be selected based on need and space availability. Students receiving this grant are responsible for providing the CDC with an annual PELL eligibility letter, and schedules and grades after each semester. Once the student is receiving assistance, they will remain eligible for assistance if they remain Pell-eligible, continue progressing in their schooling, and comply with the Center requirements. Grant funding limitations may restrict the number of eligible student’s participation.
This grant supports SCC student parents attend school, and successfully graduating, by reducing financial barriers and assisting with the cost of quality early childhood education and care. SCC serves a large number of Pell-eligible student parents who may benefit from financial assistance to help cover the cost of child care.
How to Apply:
Pell-eligible SCC student parents may submit a CCAMPIS application , along with a copy of their Pell Award Notification letter and current class schedule
to the CDC. SCC student parents will be scheduled to have an initial interview with
the Grant Coordinator, as well as semester meetings following the receipt of the award.
If funds and space exist after the application is reviewed, funds will be awarded.
Eligibility Requirements:
- SCC student must be Pell-eligible
- Actively enrolled at any SCC location
- Submission of completed application form
- Submitting Pell Award Notification letter and class schedule with application
- Attend initial interview with CCAMPIS Grant Coordinator
- Attend semester interviews with the CCAMPIS Grant Coordinator for renewal of assistance
SCC students will no longer be eligible for tuition assistance immediately upon:
- Loss of PELL eligibility or withdrawing from SCC courses
- Non-compliance with the Child Development Center’s CCAMPIS requirements