University of Dayton, Ohio

The Bombeck Family Learning Center

Named the top child care center in Dayton by Dayton Business Journal!

The Bombeck Family Learning Center is the Early Childhood Education Demonstration School of the University of Dayton's School of Education and Allied Professions. We are dedicated to giving full attention to all of the needs of the children for whom we provide care and educate.

Three R's: The Bombeck Center Way

• Respect: We are a community of learners in an environment of respect for children, families, teachers, and staff.
• Reflective Practice: Quality care and education require conscious reflection of the people, policies, and practice that take place.
• Research: We base our practice on the rich historical research in early childhood that has determined best practices for working with children.

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A Caring Learning Environment

At the University of Dayton's Bombeck Family Learning Center, our main goal is providing the very best care and education experiences for children by working in partnership with their families as the children grow and develop from ages birth through five years. As the demonstration school for the Early Childhood Education Program for the University of Dayton's School of Education and Allied Professions, we mentor future early childhood educators and provide support and observation experiences for students in other university programs.

The family spirit that prevails at our Catholic, Marianist university guides us to advocate for young children and their families regardless of cultural, socio-economic, ethnic, or religious background. As leaders in the early childhood community, our faculty and staff enjoy reaching out to the community in ways that improve young lives in our region and advance the development of knowledge in the field of early childhood education.

Our center is a unique, caring, learning community. If you are not already a part of it, I hope that your online visit leads you to consider visiting us in person. We are always happy to give tours to parents, professional colleagues at other early childhood centers, university classes, and any other person or organization interested in observing a high-quality program for infants through preschoolers.

Demonstration School

Since 2000, the Bombeck Family Learning Center has been an integral part of the University of Dayton's School of Education and Allied Professions as the home of its Early Childhood Education Demonstration School. Second-year early childhood education students actively participate in the center classrooms during the year-­long field practicum associated with their coursework, learning the very best practices in early childhood education as they prepare to become tomorrow's teachers.

The Department of Teacher Education works closely with our staff and teachers to provide administrative guidance, curriculum development, and professional education opportunities. As a result of this affiliation with the university, the center's children and families have the unique opportunity to experience high quality care and education.

Tuition

Please contact us to learn more about our tuition rates.

The ACCESS Framework

The University of Dayton in collaboration with the Bombeck Family Learning Center has developed the ACCESS Curriculum Framework:

A:  Assessment-supported

C:  Child

C:  Centered

E:  Emergent and negotiated curriculum

S:  Science emphasis

S:  Standards integrated

Visit the ACCESS Curriculum Framework website >>

View and purchase the book >>

Guidelines and Standards

Our curriculum implements Ohio's Infant and Toddler Guidelines and the Ohio Early Learning Content Standards. Based on these guidelines and standards, our curriculum:

• Is emergent and follows the children's interests.
• Is assessment supported.
• Provides for the physical, social/emotional, language, aesthetic, and cognitive development of the children.
• Is socially relevant.
• Engages children intellectually.
• Is personally meaningful to the children.
• Builds on children's knowledge and abilities.
• Integrates content matter.
• Makes meaningful connections.
• Supports children’s home cultures.
• Reflects realistic and attainable goals.
• Allows children to represent their knowledge in a wide variety of ways.

Milestones and Development

Assessment documents milestones and development as well as progress in the Early Learning Content Standards, identifies challenges and interventions, screens children to provide a baseline, and supports emerging curriculum. We use assessment to plan and implement curriculum, to determine individual and whole-class progress, and to inform and initiate interventions.

Evaluations

Children are evaluated informally in the classroom, where the child feels comfortable, by familiar adults on a consistent and ongoing basis. Formal assessments and screenings are done for specific reasons with the consent of parents and by trained, experienced professionals (i.e., teachers or consultants). Parental permission is required prior to formal testing, and results are discussed during conferences. Assessment information is shared with parents quarterly, through either conferences and/or written reports.

Confidentiality

Our faculty and staff follow ethical standards for maintaining confidentiality of assessments. Parents may ask to view any assessment information at any time. State-required forms with confidential information and evaluation results are kept in the children's files in the office area. Daily assessments and behavioral observations are kept in confidential files within the classroom. They are used to help teachers plan both individual and whole-class activities. Portfolios are openly displayed for parents and children to view, as no confidential information is included in them.

Parent Participation

Parents may contribute to assessment data in several ways. Parents are consistently asked for information about children during daily discussions at dropoff and pick­up times, or during conferences and intervention team meetings.

Initial Screenings

Initial screenings are completed within 30 days of a child's enrollment date in the center.

Five classrooms and several indoor and outdoor experiential areas

We encourage all prospective families to contact us to arrange a visit to our beautiful facility, located on the campus of the University of Dayton near the intersection of Brown and Stewart streets.

Inside

Our 21,000-square-foot center features large, open classrooms with an abundance of natural light that encourages young learners to explore in a safe environment. Each of our rooms is staffed by a three-teacher team, all of whom are either certified by the Child Development Association or possess a master's, bachelor's or associate's degree in early childhood education. Children are assigned to classrooms based on many factors, including age, developmental level, and the gender and chronological makeup of the class.

Our rooms:

• Sunbeams: Infants between 6 weeks and 12 months of age
• Flyers: Toddlers age 12 to 24 months
• Gliders: Toddlers age 24 to 36 months
• Explorers, Voyagers and Jets: Preschoolers age 3 to 5 years
• Adventurers

Outside

We also offer several spacious, outdoor learning and playspaces with age-appropriate playstations and toys that help children develop gross and fine motor skills, as well as other areas of development. The children also tend a garden each year during the growing season.

Staffing

Our facility and staffing structure allows us to offer ratios of caregivers /children that easily exceed state standards. For children from birth to 18 months, we have a ratio of 1:4. For children from 18 to 36 months, our ratio is 1:5. For preschoolers age 3 and older, our ratio is 1:8. Students from the university's early childhood education program add even more support for the children in our care.

Support

A $3.8 million renovation of the Bombeck Family Learning Center in 2002 helped transform what was a childcare center into an early childhood demonstration school for the University of Dayton's School of Education & Allied Professions. Students in the early childhood education program take a portion of their coursework in the center's fully wired multimedia-ready classroom.

A $1 million gift by the family of late columnist Erma Bombeck '49 spurred the renovation. The Bombeck family "all agreed it would be a great memorial for Erma and our entire family," Bill Bombeck '50 said when the center was dedicated. "We are proud to be part of the learning center."

How do you find us?

The Bombeck Family Learning Center is open weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

We ask that all parents adhere to those hours for dropoff and pickup. Arriving early or late creates a difficult situation for the child as teachers’ responsibilities begin and end at those times. Late fees will be charged for late pickups.

Our calendar is aligned with the university calendar. A holiday schedule is provided annually at the start of the fall term in August, and is available at the front desk at any time.

Getting to the Bombeck Center

The Bombeck Center is located at 941 Albert Street, on the corner of Stewart Street, on the University of Dayton campus.

Directions to the University of Dayton. >>

Join the Bombeck Center community!

Now Enrolling for Preschool!

Please call (937) 229-5378 for more information, or see below.

About Enrollment

The Bombeck Family Learning Center has enrollment options for children ranging from infants to preschoolers. For our most popular enrollment options, we maintain a waiting list so we can contact parents when a space becomes available. We offer a number of exciting learning experiences throughout the year.

Depending on enrollment levels, we maintain a waiting list at each age level that is based on priority rank and date of pre-enrollment application. The priority ranking is as follows:

• University of Dayton family with a sibling already enrolled
• Non-University of Dayton family with a sibling already enrolled
• University of Dayton family without a sibling enrolled
• University of Dayton student
• University of Dayton alumni
• General public

How to Register

1. Please contact us to discuss the availability of openings and your desired enrollment date and to schedule a tour of the facility with the center director.
2. Download the Pre-Enrollment Form (pdf) or pick up a form from the center. Submit the form along with a non-refundable registration fee of $50 (check or money order) to the center. This places your child(ren) permanently on the waiting list.
3. When a position is available, we will notify you. Once the position is offered and accepted, you will need to pay a one-week deposit. This is returned if you give a two-week written notice of withdrawal.
4. We will set up a pre-enrollment conference for parents and teachers to exchange information and address concerns.
5. You will be asked to review the center's handbook and sign the agreement to abide by center policies.
6. You will also complete an enrollment packet and submit necessary paperwork.
7. Prior to the first day of attendance, you and your child may visit his/her room and the rest of the facility.