Mission

The Karen Slattery Educational Research Center for Child Development, informally known as the “Slattery Center”, is a Lab School affiliated with Florida Atlantic University’s College of Education.  The Slattery Center is designed to be of service to children and their families, and to the wider professional community.  Our goals are:
 

 To help young children grow intellectually, socially, emotionally, and physically in a learning environment that nurtures and supports their optimal development.

  • To help young children grow intellectually, socially, emotionally, and physically in a learning environment that nurtures and supports their optimal development.
     

  • To provide a lab school for The College of Education’s teacher education students, with an educational philosophy that is inclusive and intended to address the needs of all children whose development represents a range of abilities and learning styles.
     

  • To promote research in early childhood education, child development, and related disciplines by serving as a research site for Florida Atlantic University’s Facility.

The Karen Slattery Educational Research Center for Child Development is designed to provide a model educational environment for children of FAU students, faculty and staff, to provide educational opportunities in the teaching field and to provide research opportunities.

The ERCCD serves approximately 100 children between the ages of three and five, and 30 children ages 6wks-2yrs.   Preschool Children attend either a half-day, extended-day, or full-day program, infants and twos enroll in a full day program only.  Because the ERCCD exists to promote the best possible program for preschool children while training university students and facilitating research, an attempt is made to maintain a balance among children of varying ethnic backgrounds and genders.  Thus, priority is as follows: 1) FAU students, 2) FAU faculty and staff.