Applications are accepted year-round, but families must submit a new application each year for their child’s enrollment the following Fall. Applying during January and February offers your child the best opportunity for Fall admission. (Note: No fee is required with a new application for the same child in subsequent years.)

The first round of Fall admission offers is made in mid-March through April, but additional openings may occur if families move or change their plans. Children who do not receive a slot are placed on an active waiting list. All acceptance decisions are made by the ECL Director.

Once accepted, a non-refundable $200 deposit is required and an enrollment contract and additional completed paperwork must be submitted before enrollment is final.

Facts to know before you apply

  • The Early Childhood Lab School (ECLS) is funded as a teaching/research/demonstration program for UC Davis students and faculty. To fulfill these missions each class is balanced to provide a balanced sex ratio, even age distribution, and developmental and family diversity.
  • Our acceptance of this application and $40 application fee does not guarantee placement for your child. Enrollment depends on how many applications are submitted for each age group and what balance is needed. Siblings of currently enrolled children are given preference but are also not guaranteed placement. 
  • Enrolled families are expected to have their child attend every day the program is in session (illness excepted), to facilitate the learning of our child development practicum students. This program is not a good fit for families who plan frequent or extended travel during the school year.

Tuition and Fees

  • $930 quarterly tuition for part-day enrollment (4 days/week)
  • $2,945 quarterly tuition for full-day enrollment (4-1/2 days/week). As participants of CCAMPIS (a federal grant for low income student families), at least 50% (with the possibility of up to 100%) of the cost of tuition will be subsidized by the CCAMPIS grant.
  • $75 annual administrative fee for each child attached to fall quarter tuition or first quarter of each school year child attends
  • $200 annual enrollment deposit which will be credited toward child's next spring quarter tuition or their final bill, whichever comes first.

Families are billed for tuition before the beginning of each ten-week quarter, and payment is due by the first day of school each quarter.

To submit an application please follow the steps below:

  1. Go to the Curacubby signup site at https://ucdavis.curacubby.com/fst/ECLapply (Curacubby supports the newer versions of Google Chrome and Safari. The application may not load on other browsers - Internet Explorer, Firefox, etc. - or old versions of Chrome or Safari.)
  2. Complete and submit the application
  3. Mail a check for $40 payable to "UC Regents" (No Cash or Credit Cards are accepted) to:

Center for Child and Family Studies (CCFS), University of California, Davis, One Shields Ave, Davis, CA 95616-5270  

Please reference your child's full name with the check. Your application will not be officially accepted until check is received.

Placement offers will be extended by email beginning in mid-March through mid-April.

If you experience any issues with the application please contact Curacubby support at support@curacubby.com.

2024-25 Programs

 

License numbers: 570306437 and 570311412