Program Information

The Child Development Lab (CDL) program is a licensed and accredited play-based, developmentally appropriate, child-centered, teacher-designed early education curriculum in a laboratory school setting.

Operations:

The CDL operating hours are 7:30 am through 5:30 pm Monday-Friday.  Please refer to the School Year Calendar for specific scheduled closure dates.

As a lab school the CDL facilities are open to observation by students, researchers and the interested public.  Researchers and Instructors interested in working with the CDL should refer to the information in the Students & Instructors, and Researchers sections of the website.

The school year begins at start of fall semester and runs through the end of summer sessions, or until two weeks prior to the start of the upcoming fall semester.  The CDL is closed for two weeks between each school year.

The CDL program operates out of two semi-adjacent buildings, the Child Development Lab and the Early Child Development Lab) referred to as the CDL and ECDL buildings.  The ECDL currently houses the infant, toddler and one of the two year old classes.  The CDL houses the other two year old and all of the preschool classes.

Enrollment:

Applications are accepted throughout the year.   However, the selection and enrollment processes for the upcoming school year begin on April 1 and are usually complete by the end of May.

Families who believe they may qualify for a reduced tuition space should submit a Tuition Determination form at the same time as the application is submitted.  Approximately 25% of our spaces are available for reduced tuition enrollments.

Applications received by April 1 for the upcoming school year are given full consideration during the first round of selection when all vacancies are being filled.  These families will receive email notification of the status of their application shortly after the Selection Committee completes first-round selections.

Children remain in their class grouping for the full school year.  Birthdays do not trigger transitions to another classroom.

Please visit our enrollment / application page under the “parent tab” for more information

To request a Parent Tour, please call the CDL at 217-244-9525 or email Meghan Redeker: meghanew@illinois.edu