Palomar College Early Childhood Education Lab School

Mission Statement

The mission of the Palomar College Early Childhood Education Lab School (ECELS) is to provide high-quality education and care for the children of students, staff, faculty, and community families. We serve as a model early childhood program which is available for academic, curricular, and research purposes, including student training, fieldwork, and observation.

We have committed ourselves to:

• Appreciating childhood as a unique and valuable stage of the human life cycle.
• Basing our work with children on knowledge of child development.
• Appreciating and supporting the close ties between the child and the family.
• Recognizing that children are best understood and supported in the context of family, culture, community, and society.
• Respecting the dignity, worth, and uniqueness of each individual.
• Helping children and adults achieve their full potential in the context of relationships that are based on trust, respect, and positive regard.

The ECELS believes there are five important goals to be a successful program.  They include children, families, staff, students, and the community.

Children

To provide a safe, stimulating, and developmentally appropriate learning environment in conjunction with a quality educational curriculum that assists the social, emotional, physical, and intellectual growth of all children.

Families

To create a supportive environment that accepts and promotes all parents as equal contributors to their child’s education and the program. To communicate, educate, and partner with families by providing parent orientation, training, referrals, parent conferences, and family events that foster the family-school connection.

Staff

To provide a healthy, positive, and optimal team-teaching work environment that respects each employee’s contributions to operate successfully. To advocate for a living wage, benefits, and compensation that is based on education, experience, and responsibility.

Students

To operate an exemplary program, with a welcoming atmosphere, providing guidance and support, for college students to observe and participate and includes child development student teachers. Students from any discipline who have projects involving work with children are also welcome.

Community

To exemplify and model a quality college campus-based program within the local community and California State system of Early Childhood Education. To advocate for children and families based on the premise of how important early learning is for individual future success and society as a whole.