At DCPS we know that high quality early childhood education matters! That’s why DCPS partners with community-based organizations to operate several infant and toddler child development centers co-located within our schools.
The child development centers located in our elementary schools offer a coordinated and supported transition between infant and toddler programming and PK3. Enrollment priority is given to families who meet Head Start eligibility guidelines followed by those with a sibling enrolled at the school. High School-based child development centers prioritize seats for parenting DCPS students, followed by Early Head Start eligible community members.
With the support of Mayor Bowser, DCPS plans to greatly expand the number school-based child development centers across the District over the next several years.
Two new child development centers are scheduled to open in SY 23-24. Centro Nia will be operating the CDC at Bunker Hill Elementary and UPO will be operating the CDC at Randle Highlands Elementary!
Current Locations:
Elementary Child Development Centers
- UPO at C.W. Harris
- UPO at Ketcham
- UPO at Marie Reed
- Centro Nia at Stevens Early Learning Center
- UPO at Malcolm X
High School Child Development Centers
- UPO at Anacostia
- UPO at Ballou
- Centro Nia at Cardozo
- UPO at Coolidge
- MCIP at Bell
- UPO at Dunbar
- UPO at Luke C. Moore
- UPO at Roosevelt
- UPO at Woodson
Requests for Applications
DCPS is currently accepting competitive applications from providers interested in operating infant toddler child development centers co-located in DCPS for the following locations:
Amidon-Bowen Elementary School (Construction complete SY 23-24)
Whitlock Elementary School (Construction complete SY 24-25)
Garfield Elementary School (Construction complete SY 24-25)
Miner Elementary School (Construction complete SY 24-25)
Infant Toddler Center RFA Fall 2023
Applications Due: December 27, 2023
For additional questions about the Request for Applications (RFA), please reach out to Drue Docie, Manager of Birth to Five Programming ([email protected]).
Enrollment Information
For more information about the United Planning Organization’s infant and toddler programs located within DCPS, contact:
Royace Hagler
[email protected]
For more information about Centro Nia's infant and toddler programs located within DCPS, contact:
Lisa Rivera
[email protected]
For more information about MCIP’s infant and toddler program located within DCPS, contact:
Kapindi Kroma
[email protected]
