ChAD Lab Preschool
- About Us: Toddler Lab and Multi-age Lab
- Our Philosophy and Curriculum
- Parent and Family Information
- Faculty and Student Information
- Contact Us
- Apply to enroll your child in our ChAD Lab Preschool
- Payment Link: https://commerce.cashnet.com/CHADsjsu
At the Child Development Laboratory Preschool at San José State University, we foster children’s intellectual, emotional, and social growth through a safe, thoughtfully designed environment rich with hands-on exploration and guided by caring, knowledgeable educators. At the same time, we provide meaningful learning opportunities for SJSU students studying child development, supporting their academic and professional growth.
About Us
We offer two classrooms: a toddler lab for 2-year-olds and a multi-age lab for children ages 3-5. Our program follows the SJSU academic calendar and runs during the fall and spring semesters.
Fall 2025 Calendar
- Wednesday, August 27 | First day of Fall Program
- Monday, September 1 | Closed for Labor Day
- Tuesday, November 11 | Closed for Veterans Day
- November 26-27 | Closed for Thanksgiving Break
- Monday, December 1 | Last day of Fall Program
- December 2, 3, 4, & 5 | Family-Teacher Conferences
Spring 2026 Calendar
- Thursday, January 29 | First day of Spring Program
- Tuesday, March 31 | Closed for César Chávez Day
- March 30 - April 3 | Closed for Spring Break
- Monday, May 4 | Last day of Spring Program
- May 5, 6, 7, & 8 | Family-Teacher Conferences
| 2-Day Schedule | 4-Day Schedule | |
|---|---|---|
| Days & Times |
Monday/Wednesday, 9:00-11:00 AM (OR) Tuesday/Thursday, 9:00-11:00 AM |
Monday to Thursday, 9:00-11:00 AM |
| Tuition |
$200/month |
$330/month |
| Operational Months |
September, October, November, February, March, and April |
|
| Morning Schedule | Afternoon Schedule | |
|---|---|---|
| Days & Times |
Monday to Thursday, 9:00-11:30 AM |
Monday to Thursday, 12:30-3:00 PM |
| Tuition |
$320/month |
$300/month |
| Operational Months |
September, October, November, February, March, and April |
|
A $45 non-refundable registration fee is required of all new applicants. Monthly tuition is due on the first school day of each month.
Our Philosophy
We believe that children learn best through play! When children are engaged in hands-on, developmentally appropriate play experiences the learning is limitless. This means the children will get messy by doing what they choose –painting, building, playing games, using their imaginations, etc. The children will be invited to ask lots of questions about their environment. Through active inquiry and with support/guidance from responsive Teachers, the children will answer their own questions.
Children will also spend time socializing with their peers. We believe that through socialization, children will learn how to be more productive, successful, and caring. We focus a lot of time and energy on language development because every child will be communicating, negotiating, and problem solving for the rest of their lives. We believe that supporting a child’s interest will create their momentum of becoming a lifelong learner.
Kindergarten readiness is on our minds and in our daily classroom practices. We look to the California Preschool Learning Foundations for curricular support. We also look to the National Association of the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) for support in our practices.
Curriculum
Curriculum at the Child Development Lab Preschool includes child-initiated and some teacher-led activities and experiences offered to young children that support and enrich their development emotionally, socially, physically, and cognitively. Self-selection or “free-play” is a daily part of the curriculum and means a child has the opportunity to choose which center or activity they participate in. This promotes creative expression and development of important social skills. Teachers are expected to actively participate with the children during free play activities by asking open-ended questions about what the children are doing, participating in their pretend play, reading books when prompted, encouraging children to try new activities or play with a new item(s), etc.
Parent and Family Information
- View our Family Handbook for comprehensive information about our Lab Preschool Programs.
- View our Current Calendar and Fee Schedule
- Apply to enroll your child in our ChAD Lab Preschool
Classroom Observations for Parents and Families
Parents are welcome to use our observation spaces after drop-off, during class, or before pick-up to see how our programs work.
These spaces are also shared with SJSU undergraduate and graduate students who observe young children’s development as part of their coursework.
Faculty and Student Information
Faculty Research
For faculty who are interested in conducting research at the preschool, please contact Joy Foster, Lab School Director at joy.foster@sjsu.edu
Classroom Observations for SJSU Students
Some courses require observations of children under age five. Students may use our lab school observation rooms for these assignments. Please complete the Google form below before visiting.
- Toddler Lab: The Toddler Lab class is for children 2 years of age. There are two class times- Monday/Wednesday 9:00-11:00am and Tuesday/Thursday 9:00-11:00am. This observation room is located in Sweeney Hall (SH) room 117-J.
- Multi-age Lab: The Multi-age Lab class is for children 3-5 years of age. The morning session is from 9-11:30am and the afternoon session is from 12:30-3:00pm Monday through Thursday. This observation room is located in Central Classroom Building (CCB) room 117.
Classroom Observation Guidelines:
- Complete Observation Room Google Form
- Carry your SJSU Tower ID and be prepared to show it upon request
- Be respectful and follow the posted rules in the observation room
- Do not enter classrooms or interact with the children without the lab instructor's permission
Select to Complete Observation Room Google Form
Faculty, Staff and Student-Teachers
We insist that all staff members adhere to the state Licensing requirements. Staff members are considered - Lab Instructors or Head Teachers, Student-Teachers, Teacher-Assistants, and Substitute Teachers. Before working in the classroom, each staff member will:
- Complete a Background Clearance (through fingerprinting/Live Scan)
- Submit a proof of up to date immunizations (DTaP and MMR)
- Submit a proof of a negative TB skin or blood test (dated within 1 year)
- Complete Mandated Reporter Certificate
- Lab Instructors and substitutes are required to obtain all of the above plus:
- CPR and First Aid certification, retraining every 2 years
- Child Development Permit, renewal every 5 years
The Toddler and Multi-Age Lab Instructors are faculty members in the Child and Adolescent Development (ChAD) department at SJSU. Both instructors have earned their MA Degrees in Child Development or related fields and hold the Child Development Director Permits through California’s Commission on Teacher Credentialing.
Student-Teacher Responsibilities
Student-Teachers are an integral part of our program providing individual attention to your child, and at the same time they are learning through direct, hands-on experience how to foster a child's development. Our Student-Teachers have many duties throughout the semester that gives them a view of what teaching looks and feels like in the early childhood classroom.
While constant supervision is MOST important, they will also have curricular and classroom responsibilities. Our Student-Teachers will be designing and implementing learning opportunities for the children, and having engaging interactions with the children.
Contact Us
For additional questions about the Lab School or Multi-Age Classroom, please contact Joy Foster, Lab School Director at joy.foster@sjsu.edu.
For questions about the Toddler Classroom, please contact Jessica Fraser, Toddler Classroom Instructor, at jessica.fraser@sjsu.edu.
