Celebrating One Year - Early Childhood Education Laboratory Preschool
A look back at the successes of the Early Childhood Education Laboratory Preschool
Last October, our College – alongside our LSU and Baton Rouge communities – unveiled the Early Childhood Education Laboratory Preschool (ECELP). With the addition of the preschool, the College truly fulfills its mission of improving the quality of life across the lifespan.
In the last year, the preschool has demonstrated its ability to serve as a model site for child development, as well as a facility to foster innovative research by both undergraduate and graduate students at LSU.
“In just a year, we have made strides in establishing ourselves as a research and model demonstration program. We have established multiple partnerships with other academic units on campus for both research and field experiences for students from a variety of disciplines,” said Dr. Cynthia DiCarlo, executive director of the ECELP and professor of early childhood education in the School of Education (SOE). “We are beginning to take the lead in professional development in the community and have established partnerships with other early childhood organizations who use the ECELP as an observation site within their early childhood programs.”
The vision for Louisiana State University’s Early Childhood Education Lab Preschool is to be recognized as a leader in the field of Early Childhood Education for international, national, and local contributions to knowledge, policy, and practice through the dissemination of cutting-edge research.
Angela Barnes, director of the ECELP, said the preschool’s first year offered her many insights and experiences.
"Watching the children grow and develop over the last year has been one of my most rewarding experiences," she said. "You can see the children's love of learning grow as they experience a curriculum that is built upon their interests. It’s a pleasure to be able to provide these young learners an educational experience that provides a foundation for their later learning, and provide their families with the peace of mind that their young one is in good hands."
The ECE Lab Preschool accomplishes this through the delivery of high-quality early childhood programming to young children, engagement of preservice students within early childhood classrooms, and cutting-edge research.
In its first year, the ECELP served as a site for 10 research projects that span several LSU programs, including the Early Childhood Education program in the School of Education (SOE), the School of Kinesiology (SOK), the School of Music, and the Department of Psychology.
Looking Back
MUSEUM OF CHILDREN'S ART
Early Childhood Education Laboratory Preschool Students present original artwork
OUTDOOR LEARNING IS CHILD'S PLAY
Grant-funded gardens installed at the ECELP
Research
Parent Perspectives on Preschool
Parents want the best for their children. We want the best for our students.
In addition its Reggio Emilia-inspired curriculum and active research, the ECELP further demonstrates excellence with its many programs and community collaborations.
About SOE
The LSU School of Education (SOE) offers graduate and undergraduate programs in Curriculum
and Instruction, Educational Leadership and Research, and Counseling, including two
completely online master’s programs. SOE offers a range of professional and academic
degree programs that focus on preparing students for careers in education, research,
policy formation and implementation, as well as program oversight. The School’s mission
is to prepare P-12 educational professionals to be leaders, practitioners, and scholars
knowledgeable in contemporary educational issues. SOE is part of the College of Human
Sciences & Education.
Visit the School of Education at lsu.edu/chse/education
About CHSE
The College of Human Sciences & Education (CHSE) is a nationally accredited division of Louisiana State University. The college is comprised of the School of Education, the School of Leadership & Human Resource Development, the School of Kinesiology, the School of Library & Information Science, the School of Social Work, and the University Laboratory School. These combined schools offer 8 undergraduate degree programs, 18 graduate programs, and 7 online graduate degree programs, enrolling more than 2,020 undergraduate and 879 graduate students. The College is committed to achieving the highest standards in teaching, research, and service and is committed to improving quality of life across the lifespan.
Visit the College of Human Sciences & Education at lsu.edu/chse