The Early Childhood Education Program began as a parent cooperative in 1969. The program came under University management in 1973, receiving joint funding for student families from Student Registration Fees and the State Department of Education Child Development Division (funding applies to the programs that serve students). This funding is supplemented by Federal Child Care Food Program funds and parent fees.

Spaces for faculty and staff children were added in 1989 at the Harold E. Jones Child Study Center. The Clark Kerr Campus Center was opened in 2000. And in 2006 the Haste Street Child Development Center was built. Today, the Early Childhood Education Program serves over 200 University families and operates three centers near the UC Berkeley campus, plus one center in University Village in Albany. Currently the program depends significantly more on parent fees and fundraising, as University financial support and the State Department of Education funding for subsidized students has decreased.

Our Philosophy

The ECEP believes in building a working partnership with parents, family and the community to provide a child development program which nurtures a healthy sense of self-worth, fosters the development of skills in all developmental domains, encourages the development of independence and promotes diverse cultural values and acceptance. Some of our goals:

• Provide early childhood education programs for children of University families
• Provide a warm and challenging environment in which the child is both an individual and an integral member of the group
• Support equally all aspects of a young child's growth within an atmosphere of respect
• Provide the opportunity for parents to volunteer in their child’s classroom, assist on field trips, or serve on the Parent Advisory Committee

> ECEP Mission/Vision/Guiding Principles

> Early Childhood Education for Student Families

> Early Childhood Education for Faculty and Staff

> Locations of our Early Childhood Education Centers

> FAQ for the Student Program

> FAQ for Staff / Faculty

Contact us for more information!