You Are Here:

Escondido Site

Early Childhood Education Lab School

Escondido

The Escondido Early Childhood Education Lab School (ECELS) is a State-funded preschool program that is open year-round, Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The ECELS serves children of college students, faculty & staff, and community members who are ages 2 1/2 to 5 years old and qualify for the California State Preschool Program (CSPP). See Admission Priorities and Income Rankings below.

All families must complete the waitlist application prior to enrollment. You may complete a waitlist application online or by coming to the Escondido Site. Incomplete applications will not be processed, so please answer all required fields.

The Escondido ECELS offers families the following options for the CSPP:

  • Part-Day Morning: Room 9A, Monday – Friday, 8:30 AM – 12:00 PM
  • Part-Day Afternoon: Room 9P, Monday – Friday, 1:00-4:30 PM
  • Full-Day Program: Child’s schedule is determined by the family’s documented need. The ECELS is open Monday – Friday, 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM.

Escondido Early Childhood Education Lab School is located at
Palomar College Escondido Campus
1951 E. Valley Parkway
Escondido, CA 92027
(760) 744-1150 Ext. 8155

Eligibility Categories

Three- and four-year-old children may be eligible for part-day or full-day CSPP if the child or family meets one of the following:

  • The family is a current aid recipient
  • The family is income-eligible (see ranking table below)
  • The family is experiencing homelessness
  • The child is a recipient of child protective services or has been identified as being abused, neglected, or exploited, or at risk of being abused, neglected, or exploited
  • The child has a disability; only the children with a disability may enroll under this eligibility category
  • Families who have a member of their household who is certified to receive benefits from one of the following:
    • Medi-Cal
    • CalFresh,
    • The California Food Assistance Program
    • The California Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
    • The Federal Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR)
    • Head Start/Early Head Start
    • CalWORKs
  • The family has an income that is no more than 15 percent above the income eligibility threshold; this allowance is limited to 10 percent of the total contract

Admission Priorities

To receive CSPP services, children shall be three or four years old (according to the definitions below), live in the state of California (unless identified as homeless), and meet eligibility criteria.

  • CSPP “Four-year-old children” are children who will have their fourth birthday on or before December 1 of the fiscal year* they are being served. (MB 14-02) (Children who are Kindergarten eligible are not eligible for CSPP)
  • CSPP “Three-year-old children” are children who will have their third birthday on or before December 1 of the fiscal year* they are being served.
  • “CSPP eligible five-year-olds” who will have their fifth birthday on or before September 1 of the fiscal year they receive services, and who were receiving full-day services as a CSPP eligible four-year-old on or before June 30, may remain in a CSPP program until they start kindergarten, but no later than September 30.

*Fiscal Year runs from July 1- June 30

1. First Priority:

  • Three or four-year-old neglected or abused children who are recipients of child protective services (CPS) and referred by Child Protective Services in which the case plan requires child development services.
  • Three or four-year-old children who are at risk of being neglected or abused as determined by a legally qualified legal, medical, or social services professional who states that child development services are needed to reduce or eliminate that risk.

If the ECELS is unable to enroll a child in the first priority category, the family shall be referred to local resources and referral services to locate services for the child.

2. Second Priority:

  • Once the set aside for children with exceptional needs is filled, the second priority for services shall be given to all three- and four-year-old children with exceptional needs from families with incomes below the income eligibility threshold.
  • This priority is for children with exceptional needs who are enrolling in CSPP after the percent of funded enrollment set aside pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) of Education Code (EC)Section 8208, is filled.

3.  Third priority:

  • Eligible three or four-year-old children who are not enrolled in a state-funded Transitional Kindergarten program.
  • This priority does not include children eligible based on having exceptional needs if they are from families with incomes above the income eligibility threshold.
  • Children shall be enrolled in the following order:
    • Eligible children with the lowest income according to the income ranking on the most recent schedule of income ceiling eligibility table shall be enrolled first.
    • If two or more families have the same income ranking according to the most recent schedule of income ceiling eligibility table, the child that is identified as a dual language learner shall be enrolled first. If there are no children who are identified as dual language learners, the child who has been on the waiting list for the longest time shall be admitted first.

4.  Fourth priority:

  • After all otherwise eligible children have been enrolled, shall be children from families whose income is no more than 15 percent above the income eligibility threshold.
  • Within this priority category, priority shall be given to three- and four-year-old children with exceptional needs interested in enrolling beyond those already enrolled in the percent of funded enrollment set aside pursuant to EC Section 8208, then to four-year-old children before three-year-old children without exceptional needs.

Please see the ECELS Parent Handbook for additional information regarding funding requirements.

Income Guidelines– Eligible children are ranked based on family size and adjusted income with the lowest per capita income admitted first.

*Income guidelines are subject to change by the state at any time.

Immunizations

At the time of enrollment, we must have your child’s up-to-date immunization record. The ECELS follows the immunization requirements that are made by the County of San Diego and the State of California. As of January 1, 2016, a new law is in effect. Please see the documents below for more information on immunization requirements and the law.  Immunization requirements must be met before a child can begin, so please consider your child’s start date with this in mind.

Parent’s Guide to Immunizations Provides parents with information on the requirements for immunizations.  Also explains the new laws regarding exemptions.

Immunization Requirements Although designed to assist childcare providers, this document provides additional information on the requirements, specifically regarding when missing doses can be given.

The Early Childhood Education Lab School is operated on a non-discriminatory basis, giving equal treatment and access to services, without regard to race, creed, color, sex, religion, national origin, or ancestry.

The school policy states, “Program services and activities for enrolled families shall refrain from religious instruction, worship or practices.”

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Palomar Community College District Early Childhood Education Lab School welcomes the enrollment of children with disabilities and will provide reasonable accommodation whenever possible to aid access to and participation in services programs, facilities, and activities.

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

(1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights

1400 Independence Avenue, SW

Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;

(2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or

(3) email: program.intake@usda.gov.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

De conformidad con la Ley Federal de Derechos Civiles y los reglamentos y políticas de derechos civiles del Departamento de Agricultura de los EE. UU. (USDA, por sus siglas en inglés), se prohíbe que el USDA, sus agencias, oficinas, empleados e instituciones que participan o administran programas del USDA discriminen sobre la base de raza, color, nacionalidad, sexo, discapacidad, edad, o en represalia o venganza por actividades previas de derechos civiles en algún programa o actividad realizados o financiados por el USDA.

Las personas con discapacidades que necesiten medios alternativos para la comunicación de la información del programa (por ejemplo, sistema Braille, letras grandes, cintas de audio, lenguaje de señas americano, etc.), deben ponerse en contacto con la agencia (estatal o local) en la que solicitaron los beneficios. Las personas sordas, con dificultades de audición o discapacidades del habla pueden comunicarse con el USDA por medio del Federal Relay Service [Servicio Federal de Retransmisión] al (800) 877-8339. Además, la información del programa se puede proporcionar en otros idiomas.

Para presentar una denuncia de discriminación, complete el Formulario de Denuncia de Discriminación del Programa del USDA, (AD-3027) que está disponible en línea en: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html y en cualquier oficina del USDA, o bien escriba una carta dirigida al USDA e incluya en la carta toda la información solicitada en el formulario. Para solicitar una copia del formulario de denuncia, llame al (866) 632-9992. Haga llegar su formulario lleno o carta al USDA por:

(1) correo: U.S. Department of Agriculture

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights

1400 Independence Avenue, SW

Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;

(2) fax: (202) 690-7442; o

(3) correo electrónico: program.intake@usda.gov.

Esta institución es un proveedor que ofrece igualdad de oportunidades.

Esta institución es un proveedor de igualdad de oportunidades

Early Childhood Education Lab School
Escondido Campus
1951 E. Valley Parkway
Escondido, CA 92027
(760) 744-1150 Ext. 8155

Facility license #376600599