About the Center

Licensed Capacity
The program is licensed by the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care.

• Infant/IT mixed: 7/8
• Toddler: 9
• Preschool: 54
• IT mixed: 9
• TP mixed: 10
• Total capacity: 90

Classrooms
A child’s age group is determined by their age at the start of the program:

• Infant: 2–15 months
• Toddler: 15 months–2 years, 9 months
• Preschool: 2 years, 9 months–4 years, 11 months

Teacher:Child Ratio

• Preschool: 3:18
• Infants: 3:7
• Toddlers: 3:9

Staff
Classrooms are taught by a supervising teacher and one or two teachers. The program is supported by studio teachers in visual arts and music and by two rotating assistants who substitute when teachers are absent. The administration includes a director, assistant director and office coordinator. Smith College students participate in the program in a variety of ways. 

Placement
Children are placed in classrooms at the beginning of the academic-year and remain in the same classroom for the year. To the greatest extent possible, children remain with a familiar teacher for three years in the infant/toddler program.

Tuition Grants for Smith Employees
Benefited Smith employees are eligible for a tuition grant through the Office of Human Resources.

Tuition Rates
Tuition is determined by age at the start of the program. Tuition category (i.e., infant, toddler, or preschooler) applies for the academic year and the summer following that year. View our tuition rates.

Calendar
The center follows the Smith College administrative calendar. The program also closes for the college spring recess in March and closes periodically for professional activities. There is a two-week closing in August between the end of the summer program and the beginning of the academic year.