The Cesar Chavez Early Learning Center

 

 

 

Cesar Chavez

Early Learning Center

 

 

Welcome to the César Chávez Early Learning Center!

Named in honor of the influential activist César Chávez, The César Chávez Early Learning Center (CCELC) is a first-of-its-kind campus designed to transform the educational landscape in San Jose. Here, children ages birth through 5 can learn and grow in a holistic, inclusive, and loving space, and build the foundation for success in the classroom and beyond. Through a groundbreaking collaboration between the Alum Rock Union Elementary District (ARUSD), Kidango, and SOMOS Mayfair, the CCELC serves the whole child and the whole family with a wide range of services. 

Our programs include: 

  • Transitional Kindergarten (TK) and T4
  • Kindergarten
  • Full-day infant, toddler and preschool care 
  • Part-day preschool (morning and afternoon)
  • After-school care and summer school programs for children in TK and kindergarten
  • Individualized instruction for children with disabilities or developmental delays

CCELC Overview

 

Where is CCELC located and what are the hours?

The CCELC is located at 2000 Kammerer Ave. in San Jose and is open from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. 

What programs are available?

  • Infant, toddler, and preschool care: High quality, full-day infant, toddler, and preschool programs are available through Kidango. Kidango’s teachers and staff provide nurturing, safe, healthy, culturally appropriate, and effective care. 
  • HOURS: Infant, toddler, and preschool care is available full-day from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. or in part-day, morning, and afternoon sessions. 
    • Early Head Start: Provided by Kidango, this program is for infants and toddlers from families that meet income eligibility requirements. Services provided include family support services, health and mental health screenings, assessments and evaluations, parent education, and more.
      • HOURS: 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
    • Transitional Kindergarten (TK) and T4: Provided by ARUSD, this optional two-year program bridges the gap between preschool and kindergarten for children who are not old enough yet for kindergarten, but want to build their social, developmental, and academic skills. Families can enroll their child/children directly in ARUSD’s TK program. Learning and care for all T4-TK’s enrolled with ARUSD are together in shared classrooms. TK/T4 is operated by ARUSD. Preschool programs are operated by Kidango.
      • HOURS: 8:40 a.m. to noon(TK); 9:50 a.m. to 1:50 p.m.(Kindergarten)
  • Kindergarten: Kindergarten is provided for families through ARUSD. 
  • HOURS: 9:50 a.m. to 1:50 p.m.
  • Care for Children with Developmental Delays and Disabilities: ARUSD coordinates referrals, assessment, and identification of children from ages 3 to 5 who may be in need of special education services. ARUSD also provides individual support for students with speech disabilities from trained and certified speech therapists. 
    • HOURS: Scheduling and hours are managed according to overall availability. 

Which program is right for my student?

Students must meet the following age requirements: 

  • Infant care: 0-18 months
  • Toddler care: 18-36 months
  • Preschool: 3-5 years old
  • Transitional Kindergarten: Year of birth from September 2, 2018 - April 02, 2019 
  • T4: Year of birth April 3, 2019 - June 30, 2019
  • Kindergarten: Year of birth before September 1, 2018

How much does the CCELC cost?

Many of the programs at the CCELC are entirely free of cost! Kindergarten, TK, and T4 are all free for families enrolled with ARUSD. Infant, toddler, and preschool care fees are based on the state's reimbursement rate (determined by family size and income). Other factors that may determine a family's eligibility can be discussed with a Kidango enrollment specialist when meeting with families interested in enrolling their child/children at the CCELC. 

Are there any registration fees, fees for uniforms, field trips, etc?

Children enrolled in programs provided by Kidango are responsible for a one-time $75 fee to process enrollment paperwork unless a family qualifies for subsidies. If a child continues to stay enrolled for the following years, this fee does not apply. Families enrolling their child/children in kindergarten at the CCELC are responsible for purchasing uniforms. Families in need of financial support for uniforms are referred to CCELC’s Student Services and will receive two sets of at-no-cost uniforms. There is no additional cost for field trips thanks to the support of Kidango and ARUSD’s annual fundraising and school budget. 

Are meals and transportation provided?

All children enrolled at the CCELC will have access to free snacks and meals. Transportation is not provided for children enrolled in Kidango programs at this time. The Alum Rock district provides transportation only if indicated in a child's Individual Education Plan (IEP) for TK and K students.

Is after-school or summer school available?

After-school care and summer school programs are available for ARUSD children in TK and kindergarten only. After-school care closes at 6 p.m.

What are the teacher/child ratios?

  • Infant care: 1:3 ratio
  • Toddler care: 1:4 ratio
  • Preschool: 1:8 ratio
  • Transitional Kindergarten: 20:1 ratio with support staff
  • Kindergarten: 20-24:2 ratio 

Care for Children with Developmental Delays and Disabilities: 10:1 ratio in Special Education classes, with two extra support staff. For Speech Therapy, we offer 1:1 support.

Family Resource Center

 

What is the Family Resource Center?

SOMOS Mayfair, an esteemed nonprofit organization rooted in East San Jose, plays a vital role in our community by operating an on-site Family Resource Center on the campus. This collaborative effort aims to connect families with community-based organizations, ensuring they have access to a range of resources and support. 

What resources are available at the Family Resource Center?

  • Workshops for caregivers in Spanish on topics like child development, positive communication techniques, and mental health.
  • Early learning programming and home visits focused on developing literacy and fine and gross motor skills.
  • Early childhood development screenings and services.
  • Referrals and application support for housing and rent, CalFresh/food access, utility bills, medical appointments, and legal issues.
  • Resource distributions for items like diapers, baby formula, and baby clothes.
  • Opportunities to continue your leadership development, organize, and build community with your neighbors.

Application Process

 

Do I need to live within a certain boundary or service area to enroll my child at CCELC?

Families with children ages birth to 5 residing in the following zip codes are eligible to apply to the CCELC: 95116, 95122, 95127, 95133, 95148. ARUSD TK and kindergarten students residing outside of these zip codes may be granted an intradistrict transfer to attend CCELC when space is available. For more information on intradistrict transfers, please contact the Student Services Department at 408-928-6945.

How do I know if my family is eligible?

All families who live in zip codes including 95116, 95122, 95127, 95133, 95148 are eligible to apply to TK, T4, and kindergarten programs. For families interested in infant, toddler, or preschool programs, Kidango uses a prioritization system set by the state to enroll families most in need of child care services.

How does Kidango prioritize enrollment at the CCELC?

Kidango uses a prioritization system to enroll low-income families most in need of child care services. Our family eligibility & needs specialists follow Kidango’s enrollment procedure, which begins with identifying families from our waitlist who are receiving support from Child Protective Services, such as infants and toddlers of teen parents who are in school; infants and toddlers with disabilities; homeless children; parents in job training; children of abuse, neglect or domestic violence who also need care to assure their protection.

How do I apply? What is the process?

Space is limited in all CCELC programs to ensure we can provide individualized care and attention to all enrolled children and families. Enrollment is rolling, and families may apply at any time. Once classrooms are full, Kidango families will be added to the waitlist. Families will be notified by the CCELC Family Eligibility & Need Specialist when there is an opening at the center and then will be required to complete necessary paperwork. 


Other questions?

Contact the CCELC Family Eligibility & Need Specialist at 510-320-6302 for more information.