Child Development Laboratory Preschool

Child painting and another child and student teacher observing

We foster children’s intellectual, emotional, and social growth through a safe, thoughtfully designed environment rich with hands-on exploration and guided by caring, knowledgeable educators. At the same time, we provide meaningful learning opportunities for SJSU students studying child development, supporting their academic and professional growth.

About Us

We offer two classrooms:

  • a toddler lab for 2-year-olds
  • a multi-age lab for children ages 3-5

Our program follows the SJSU academic calendar and is open September, October, and November during the Fall semester and February, March, and April during the Spring semester.

A $45 non-refundable registration fee is required of all new applicants. Monthly tuition is due on the first school day of each month.

Fall 2026 Calendar 

  • Wednesday, August 26 | First day of Fall Program
  • Monday, September 7 | Closed for Labor Day
  • Wednesday, November 11 | Closed for Veterans Day
  • November 25 – 26 | Closed for Thanksgiving Break
  • Monday, November 30 | Last Day of Fall Program
  • December 1, 2, 3 & 7 | Family-Teacher Conferences

Toddler Lab for 2-Year-Olds

  • Children must be 2 years of age by September 1

2-Day Schedule Option

  • Cost – $200/month
  • Schedule – Monday/Wednesday OR Tuesday/Thursday (2 days/week)
  • Hours – 9:00-11:00 AM

4-Day Schedule Option

  • Cost – $330/month
  • Schedule: Monday-Thursday (4 days/week)
  • Hours – 9:00-11:00 AM

Multi-Age Lab for 3-5 Year Olds

  • Children must be 3 years by September 1 and be fully toilet trained 

Morning Schedule Option

  • Cost – $320/month
  • Schedule: Monday-Thursday (4 days/week)
  • Hours – 9:00-11:30 AM

Afternoon Schedule Option

  • Cost – $300/month
  • Schedule: Monday-Thursday (4 days/week)
  • Hours – 12:30-3:00 PM

Child playing with claydough with student teacher

Lab Preschool Instructors

Joy Foster, Director, ChAD Lab Preschool & Multi-Age Lab Instructor

ChAD Lab Preschool DirectorJoy has been working with children and families for over 20 years. She has been part of the Preschool Lab since 2007. As the Lab Instructor in the Child Development Lab Preschool, she serves as a child care provider for our community and a mentor to ChAD practicum students who are preparing to become future early childhood professionals.

Within the Preschool Lab, Joy supports colleagues with their research and assists SJSU students with their observations, while also helping students understand how research can be translated into meaningful, developmentally appropriate practice. She values the opportunity to contribute to the learning experiences of both children and students while helping create a nurturing, engaging environment where everyone can learn and grow.

Joy is also the Lab Preschool Director. In her role as the Program's Director, she oversees the Community Care Licensing requirements in order to maintain compliance with licensing regulations, university policies, health and safety requirements, and program standards. She also ensures children are cared for in a safe, healthy, and supportive environment.

Jessica Fraser, Toddler Lab Instructor

ChAD Toddler Lab InstructorJessica Fraser has worked with young children and families for more than 20 years. She currently teaches future early childhood and elementary educators at SJSU and other colleges. She is also involved in California’s growing PK-3 education efforts, helping prepare future teachers to understand child development and bring developmentally appropriate, play-based practices into preschool through third-grade classrooms. In addition, she works with First 5 to coach family child care providers and supports local preschools, teachers, directors, and families through consultation and coaching.

During her undergraduate studies, Jessica participated in educational exchanges that allowed her to visit preschools in other countries and learn from different approaches to early childhood education. Jessica recently completed her doctorate in Educational and Innovative Leadership. Her doctoral research focused on supporting future PK-3 teachers as they learn to balance what we know is best for young children with the expectations and realities they may encounter in schools.

Of all the roles Jessica has held, being in the classroom and playing alongside children remains the one she treasures most. After more than two decades in early childhood education, she continues to believe that children have taught her more about teaching, learning, and childhood than any program or degree ever could.

Our Philosophy

We believe that children learn best through play! When children are engaged in hands-on, developmentally appropriate play experiences the learning is limitless. This means the children will get messy by doing what they choose –painting, building, playing games, using their imaginations, etc. The children will be invited to ask lots of questions about their environment. Through active inquiry and with support/guidance from responsive Teachers, the children will answer their own questions.

Children will also spend time socializing with their peers. We believe that through socialization, children will learn how to be more productive, successful, and caring. We focus a lot of time and energy on language development because every child will be communicating, negotiating, and problem solving for the rest of their lives. We believe that supporting a child’s interest will create their momentum of becoming a lifelong learner.

Kindergarten readiness is on our minds and in our daily classroom practices. We use the California Preschool/Transitional Kindergarten Learning Foundations (PTKLF) for curricular support. We look to the National Association of the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) which contributes to our daily practices.

Curriculum

Curriculum at the Child Development Lab Preschool includes child-initiated and some teacher-led activities and experiences offered to young children that support and enrich their development emotionally, socially, physically, and cognitively. Self-selection or “free-play” is a daily part of the curriculum and means a child has the opportunity to choose which center or activity they participate in. This promotes creative expression and development of important social skills. Teachers are expected to actively participate with the children during free play activities by asking open-ended questions about what the children are doing, participating in their pretend play, reading books when prompted, encouraging children to try new activities or play with a new item(s), etc.

Parent and Family Information

Classroom Observations for Parents and Families

Parents are welcome to use our observation spaces after drop-off, during class, or before pick-up to see how our programs work. 

These spaces are also shared with SJSU undergraduate and graduate students who observe young children’s development as part of their coursework.

Faculty and Student Information

Faculty Research

Interested in conducting research at the lab school? Contact: Joy Foster, Lab Preschool Director at joy.foster@sjsu.edu

Classroom Observations for SJSU Students

Complete the Google form below before visiting our Lab observation rooms for a course assignment. 

  • Toddler Lab: Sweeney Hall (SH) room 117-J; Children 2-3 years of age; Monday to Thursday 9:00-11:00am
  • Multi-age Lab: Central Classroom Building (CCB) room 117; Children 3-5 years of age; Monday to Thursday, 9:00-11:30am and 12:30-3:00pm

Classroom Observation Guidelines:

  • Complete Observation Room Google Form
  • Carry your SJSU Tower ID and be prepared to show it upon request
  • Be respectful and follow the posted rules in the observation room
  • Do not enter classrooms or interact with the children without the lab instructor's permission

Complete Observation Room Google Form

Faculty, Staff and Student-Teachers

We insist that all staff members adhere to the state Licensing requirements. Staff members are considered - Lab Instructors or Head Teachers, Student-Teachers, Teacher-Assistants, and Substitute Teachers. Before working in the classroom, each staff member will:

  • Complete a Background Clearance (through fingerprinting/Live Scan)
  • Submit a proof of up to date immunizations (DTaP and MMR)
  • Submit a proof of a negative TB skin or blood test (dated within 1 year)
  • Complete Mandated Reporter Certificate 
  • Lab Instructors and substitutes are required to obtain all of the above plus:
  • CPR and First Aid certification, retraining every 2 years
  • Child Development Permit, renewal every 5 years

The Toddler and Multi-Age Lab Instructors are faculty members in the Child and Adolescent Development (ChAD) department at SJSU. Both instructors have earned their MA Degrees in Child Development or related fields and hold the Child Development Director Permits through California’s Commission on Teacher Credentialing. 

Practicum Student-Teacher Responsibilities

Student-Teachers are an integral part of our program providing individual attention to your child, and at the same time they are learning through direct, hands-on experience how to foster a child's development. Our Student-Teachers have many duties throughout the semester that give them a view of what teaching looks and feels like in the early childhood classroom.

While constant supervision is MOST important, they will also have curricular and classroom responsibilities. Our Student-Teachers will be designing and implementing learning opportunities for the children, and having engaging interactions with the children.

Contact Us

For additional questions about the Lab School or Multi-Age Classroom, please contact Joy Foster, Lab School Director at joy.foster@sjsu.edu.

For questions about the Toddler Classroom, please contact Jessica Fraser, Toddler Classroom Instructor, at jessica.fraser@sjsu.edu.

Apply to enroll your child in our preschool