Child Development Center
Discover the Coast Guard Academy's Child Development Center, where nurturing meets learning. We provide a safe, educational, and engaging environment for every child. Whether it's their first crawl or preparing for kindergarten, our certified and accredited center ensures they're on the right path.
Child Development Center
The Child Development Center offers many programs to meet the needs of the Coast Guard community, all designed to provide an educational, safe and nurturing environment for children ages six weeks to five years old. Programs are based on the belief that children learn best by doing, and that the best learning occurs through play.
The U.S. Coast Guard Academy Child Development Center is a certified Coast Guard Child Development program and is accredited by the…
National Association for the Education of Young Children.
Our Facility
Our program accepts children on a space available basis, following the priorities listed below.
- CG active duty personnel, CG civilian employees (paid from either appropriated or non-appropriated funds), and Public Health Services (PHS) Officers who are on active duty orders to the CG;
- Active duty members and civilian employees of the Armed Forces (Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force);
- Federal Employees;
- Contractors and community members.
Within priorities (a) and (b), eligible active duty and civilian employees will be accepted equally based upon their date of application and the following criteria:
- Single parents whether active duty, civilian, or PHS Officers on active duty orders to the CG.
- Dual active duty or married civilian employees (working outside the home) or PHS Officers on active orders to the CG.
- Active duty, civilian, and PHS Officers on active duty orders to the CG with a spouse actively seeking employment.
- Active duty, civilian, and PHS Officers on active duty orders to the CG with a spouse attending full time school (enrolled a minimum of 6 credit hours for sparing and fall semesters and/or 6 credit hours of summer.
Within priorities (c) and (d), applications will be accepted based upon priority and the date of application. Priority (d) applications may be offered services as long as their children do not exceed 50% of available space and eligible federal recipients may have priority over them.
Infant Program:
The infant program accommodates 16 infants, from six weeks to twelve months of age. We maintain an adult:child ratio of 1:4 at all times with this age group. A primary caregiver is assigned to each infant to help develop and maintain a secure relationship. We offer a developmentally appropriate infant care program that is designed to meet the individual needs of each child.
Pre-Toddler Program:
The pre-toddler program currently accommodates 20 children between the ages of one years to two years. Each class maintains a group size of ten children with an adult:child ratio of 5:1.
Toddler Program:
The toddler program currently accommodates 28 children between the ages of two years to three years. Each class maintains a group size of fourteen children with an adult:child ratio of 7:1.
Both pre-toddler and toddler programs provides a balance between the child’s conflicting need for security and independence. The program provides a developmentally appropriate educational setting with a variety of learning opportunities. Children have plenty of opportunity to climb, run, crawl, and move around.
Preschool Program:
The preschool program accommodates up to 40 children between the ages of three and five years. Each class maintains an adult:child ratio of 1:10 with group sizes no more than 20 children.
The CDC offers a well-designed early childhood educational program that strives to meet the needs of every child. The teachers prepare the environment and provide stimulating and challenging activities for the children. The curriculum provides a good base for future academic success and kindergarten readiness.
The Center provides meals for children according to the guidelines set by the United States Department of Agriculture, and participates in the Connecticut Adult and Child Food Program. Breakfast, lunch and a light afternoon snack are provided. All meals are served family style to help the children develop appropriate social and fine motor skills.
Coast Guard, Department of Defense, and other Federal Employees pay on a sliding scale, based on their gross household income. The household income definition and categories follow the DOD guidelines for military programs. Fees are set and determined by this local command. Connecticut College families fees are determined by the current market rate.
All CDC forms must be completed for each child and tuition paid prior to enrollment and updated annually.
- The application packet is available from the Child Development Center, and will be emailed to you upon acceptance of the space in MCC Website
- A Health form (signed by a physician) with immunization records
- Two recent LES/pay stubs for each parent
Enrollment procedures:
- When calling or emailing to request a childcare space or waitlist space, you will be directed to MCC Website to complete the waitlist process (see above).
- When you are offered a space through MCC Website and you accept, a deposit of 2 weeks tuition, based on tuition bracket, must be paid within 3 business days. If you are offered a space and do not want it at that time, you can choose to change your projected start date by 45 days.
- All registration documents need to be returned within 7 days. If not, the center will move to the next person on the list. Placement will not be held without a deposit.
- You must attend (in person or by phone) an orientation with room staff and administrative staff before starting care.
- Payments will begin no later than the 1st of the following month.
- All deposits will be deducted from your first month’s tuition.
KinderCare Education at Work, (KCE) now provides Coast Guard members (active duty and civilians) tuition discounts at participating KCE child care centers, KinderCare at Work Centers, and before and after school programs operating under the names KinderCare, Knowledge Beginnings, and Champions. For additional information on the KCE Tuition Benefit Program, FAQs, and participating centers visit the following link:
All CDC forms must be completed for each child and tuition paid prior to enrollment and updated annually.