The Boise State Children’s Center has been awarded a $390,000 Child Care Expansion Grant from the Idaho Workforce Development Council. Funds from this grant will be used to support the hiring and retention of staff as the center works to expand to pre-COVID enrollment levels by August 2023.
This grant will also support the opening of a new full inclusion preschool classroom in partnership with the university’s College of Education. This classroom will provide a model employer subsidized full inclusion preschool classroom, the first in Idaho. Two seats in the classroom will always be held for children with identified disabilities and the lead teacher in the classroom will hold a valid early childhood education/early childhood special education teaching license. This will allow students from the Department of Early and Special Education the option to complete part of their professional year in this classroom.
Finally, funds from this award would be used to start a first of its kind summer program for school aged children of currently enrolled families. This program is designed to ease the transition to summer for the center’s 12 month contract employee families by providing a single drop off and pick up location on campus for their children.
The Children’s Center provides on campus early care and education for children ages two months to five years old of current Boise State students and employees. The center believes play is enough, and while often overlooked in educational settings, is a key vehicle through which children research and build relationships within their world. The curriculum is inquiry-based and grounded in children’s interests, honoring and nurturing their natural curiosity as the driving force and foundation for lifelong learning.
The center has limited openings in their full time, year round preschool program. These classroom spots are available on a first come, first served basis. Contact the Children’s Center Director, Nichole Billetz (nicholebilletz@boisestate.edu), to begin the enrollment process. While there are not openings in other classrooms at this time, parents interested in enrolling their children in the future can join a wait list.
Visit the page for prospective families on the Children’s Center website for more information about enrolling your child at the Children’s Center, including tuition rates and the wait list application. Answers to the most frequently asked questions can be found on the website as well.
The Children’s Center accept child care assistance funds through the Idaho Child Care Program (ICCP). To determine eligibility for child care assistance, visit the ICCP website.