Mission Statement

Our mission is to deliver the best quality care for children and to become a national model for early childhood education.

In addition to providing a healthy learning environment for children, the Center provides an opportunity for researchers to study and implement the best practices in the classroom. USC students and faculty from education, nursing, school of library and information science psychology, art, music and medicine are involved at the center as part of their educational experiences.

Facility Location

The USC Child Development and Research Center is located at 1530 Wheat Street, near the corner of Wheat Street and Pickens Street next to the Blatt Physical Education Center.

Fact Sheet

• What -- 28,000 square feet, with a first-floor child development center and second-floor research center with research space, classrooms for adult learning and offices
  
• How many --200 children ages 6 weeks - 12 years. Of those about 165-170 are in full-time care, and 30 - 35 children are in after school care, vacation school and summer camps.
  
• Hours -- 7:00 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. Monday - Friday.
  
• How much -- $4.1 million.
  
• Who -- The Center is a non-profit organization owned by the USC Foundations.
• Designer -- Architect Jeff Stroud of Columbia
  
• Builder -- Columbia-based Mashburn Construction Co.
• Classroom Design -- Louis Torelli, Faculty of WestEd Center for Infant/Toddler Development
• Playground Design -- Dr. Joe Frost, Consultant: Grounds for Play, Design and Equipment