The antiquated idea of a child development center featuring a swing set and boxes of toys has been replaced by a technologically-focused classroom environment, and a playground featuring engineering equipment, built-in easels, and musical instruments, at the new Las Brisas Child Development Center set to open late August, 2021.
Operated by the Riverside County Office of Education (RCOE), the new Las Brisas Child Development Center located at 24990 Las Brisas Road in Murrieta, will offer STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) programs for income-qualified infants, toddlers, and young preschool students.
Innovative features of the new Las Brisas Child Development Center include:
- Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) focus
- Inclusive learning environment integrates students of all abilities
- Playground features crawl-up/walk-up, built-in musical instruments, engineering equipment, art easels, and a no-fall zone slide built into a hillside
- Unobtrusive observation areas for child development researchers, educators, and interns
- Partnerships with local health care providers, college/university child development programs, and local school districts
“This inclusive, extraordinary facility is a model for future child development centers in our county and throughout California,” said Riverside County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Edwin Gomez. “It’s never too early to introduce STEAM topics to students with age-appropriate curriculum, in-classroom technology, and by extending the lessons to the outdoor learning environment.”
The idea to transform the former mixed-use office facility and alternative education child development center was four years in the making.
“It’s been said that it takes a village to raise a child, and this facility has shown that it also takes a village to raise a child development center,” said Riverside County Office of Education Assistant Superintendent for Early Learning Services, JoAnne Lauer. “It was only through the collaboration and support from different entities and teams within the organization we were able to bring the vision to reality and increase services for our children and families.”
“This has been an extraordinary adventure that is truly a ‘win-win’ for the organization and the community as securing infant and toddler care is hard to come by in Riverside County,” said RCOE Early Care and Education Coordinator, Candace Edwards. “We set the bar so high on this project, and it has been exceeded by miles.”
The Las Brisas Child Development Center will offer center-based, and state preschool subsidized programs for families that qualify for the services. The state-of-the-art facility includes three classrooms set to serve up to 54 income-qualified students aged 0-3 years:
- Infant classroom – up to 15 students
- Toddler classroom – up to 15 students
- Preschool classroom – up to 24 students
The inclusive programs offered at Las Brisas will integrate students with special needs rather than segregating them into other locations or programs.
“Inclusion is our foundation for this facility and every facility going forward. We are excited to bring all kids together—regardless of their abilities so they can learn together in a natural learning environment, both inside and outside the classroom,” Edwards said.
The facility was constructed from the beginning with community partnerships in mind.
Interns, researchers, child development educators, and students from Mt. San Jacinto College and other colleges, universities, and child-focused organizations, will take advantage of observation rooms built into each classroom behind one-way glass to prevent classroom interruptions.
Nursing students from Loma Linda University and West Coast University can fulfill their community health practicum rotation at the new facility.
“With this new facility, and strong partnerships with Head Start, and Murrieta Valley Unified School District, RCOE can offer a continuum of services starting with infancy. Families enrolled at Las Brisas Child Development Center will have access to high quality education and resource supports as well as opportunities to transition seamlessly to preschool and elementary school programs as their children grow,” Edwards said.
The Riverside County Office of Education’s Division of Early Learning Services oversees a wide variety of Federal and State funded programs serving young children and families. These programs focus on children from low income families to help them receive early education and preparation for entrance into public school, and child care and development services to assist families on their road to self-sufficiency.
The areas of expertise within the Division of Early Learning Services include:
- Head Start/Early Head Start
- Migrant Education
- Migrant Head Start
- California State Preschool Program
- Child Development Center-Based Programs
- Quality Rating Improvement System Block Grants (Quality Start Riverside County), Alternative Payment Program for child care
- Resource and Referral
- CalWORKs Stages 2 and 3 child care
- Child Care Initiative Project
- Child care health and safety
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