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Providing opportunities for children to grow and learn

Child Development Center

Chemeketa's Child Development Center provides care for children ages 2 1/2 - 5 years.

  • The image displays an indoor play area at Chemeketa's Child Development Center. At the center of the room is a large wooden structure resembling a fortress with multiple levels. To the left, there are tables and chairs arranged around a counter with various items, including books, toys, and a potted plant. On the right side, there is a window

  • A room at Chemeketa's Child Development Center filled with children’s furniture and toys. Stairs lead up to an elevated platform with a wooden railing. The walls are white with fluorescent lighting overhead.

  • The image shows a gazebo in the outdoor play area of Chemeketa's Child Development Center. There are several colorful fabric banners hanging from the structure, which add vibrant splashes of color against the natural background. No people are visible in the image, and there is no text present.

Chemeketa's Early Childhood Education Program has operated the Child Development Center lab school in Building 39 on the Salem campus since 1972. The state-licensed center is divided into two classrooms:

  • Younger room serving children ages 2 1/2-3 years
  • Older room serving children ages 4-5

The children represent families of Chemeketa students, staff and the community. The Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) Grant provides subsidized childcare and other resources to student parents who qualify for the Federal Pell Grant and are enrolled in at least six credit hours per term. CCAMPIS participants are given priority enrollment.

Experienced licensed early childhood teachers provide guidance and rich learning experiences for children at the center. Under the guidance of experienced faculty and early childhood teachers, Chemeketa students in the Early Childhood Education program conduct extensive observations and gain practical teaching experiences in the classroom.

Our Philosophy

In a warm, supportive and respectful environment, the Child Development Center provides opportunities for all children to grow and learn cognitively, physically, socially and emotionally as individuals and as members of the group.

A supportive environment allows children to develop individually as they form relationships with other children. Our philosophy is based on the concept that knowledge is constructed by the child through her or his interactions with both the physical and social world. This concept is central to the dynamics of our program because it puts the children, their ideas and explorations as the pivotal points in the classroom. Thus the environment says, "Yes, you can be successful."

Hours of Operation

  • Monday-Thursday: 8 am-3:30 pm
  • Friday: 8 am-12 pm

Program Options

  • Half-day: 8 am-12:30 pm
  • Full-day: 8 am-3:30 pm
  • Daily Drop off: between 8 am-9 am

Enrollment

2026-2027 Chemeketa Child Development Center Waitlist

Please contact the Child Development Center at 503.399.5107 or email for enrollment information.