The Infant Toddler Laboratory School (ITLS) was founded in 2005 and provides care for children age 6 to 36 months in a developmentally appropriate, highly enriched, relationship-based caregiving setting. We have two classrooms; one for children 6 to 17 months and the other for children 18-36 months. The Lab School offers an extended outdoor environment for children in both classroom. The ITLS has been accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children since 2009.
Early Childhood Laboratory Schools date back to 1894 and strive to fulfill a 3-part mission. One, laboratory schools facilitate research endeavors designed to learn more about various topics such as; how children grow and develop, how children should best be educated, family and parenting issues, teacher behavior, and teaching training concerns. Recently, practicum students have participated in a research project focused on self-regulation via biobehavioral feedback as a means to enhance teacher-child interactions. The second mission, teaching, is two-fold. First, laboratory schools provide exemplary educational facilities for young children. Second, laboratory schools provide undergraduate and graduate students training in child development and early childhood education. Since its inception the ITLS has provided practicum, internship, and employment opportunities to thousands of students pursuing employment with children and families. Finally, the third mission focuses on providing service to the community in the form of child care and to the early childhood professional community in the form of training, educational presentations, membership on advisory boards, etc. From 2005 to 2017 the ITLS provided child care tuition to student parents through the Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) program funded through the U.S. Department of Education.
Faculty oversight for the ITLS is provided by Dr. Amanda Wilcox-Herzog and daily operations are the responsibility of the director, Deanna Herndon, and assistant director, Heather Moon. Each classroom employs a full-time, head teacher as well as part-time teachers. All staff are either current or previous students from CSUSB and the majority majored in Human Development. The ITLS is also supported by practicum students and interns pursuing careers with young children and families.
For more information, visit our webpage at www.csusb.edu/itls or by phone at 909-537-5661.