PRE-SCHOOL AGE LICENSED CHILD CARE CENTERS

About Recreation and Parks (RAP) Preschool Program

As a result of the Great Recession of 2008, Recreation and Parks was forced to close its licensed child care sites due to lack of funding. The COVID-19 crisis highlighted the need for licensed preschool programs. In response to this crisis, our City Council took immediate action by identifying funding to restore and open low cost licensed preschool facilities.

The goal of RAP’s State Licensed Preschool Program is to provide a safe, caring, and academically challenging environment in which preschool children may develop their self-esteem, creativity, learning, and social skills through the use of age-appropriate activities and materials. We have highly qualified teachers that apply best practices for children’s growth and development. Our teachers are required to obtain a Children’s Center Permit from the State of California Teaching Credentialing Division. Our Licensed Preschool Program provides full day for preschool children ages 2 years to 6 years of age.

RAP state licensed preschool program uses the Creative Curriculum. The Creative Curriculum was first developed in 1978 by Diane Trister Dodge, the founder of Teaching Strategies. Teaching Strategies enhances the quality of early childhood education and care programs serving children from birth to age 8 by developing, publishing, and offering a wide range of curriculum and professional development materials. The Creative Curriculum’s goal is to prepare children to live in the global age by learning how to solve problems, think creatively and flexibly, use technology, work collaboratively and constructively with others, be respectful to differences, care for the environment, have good communication skills, and be lifelong learners…just like adults. This curriculum provides teachers with nurturing skills in the early years when the foundation for important social and emotional skills, language and literacy learning, and mathematical and scientific thinking are built.

If interested in our preschool program, complete the Preschool Interest Form located on the bottom of the page.

Program Details

• Eligibility Guidelines
  • Age: 2 to 6 years old
  • We will work with your child on potty readiness as needed
• Hours of Operation
  • Preschool centers are open from Monday through Friday from 7am to 6pm
  • Open all year round
  • Closed on all city holidays
• Cost/Subsidy Programs
  • Scholarships may be available
  • We accept payments from all child care resources and referral agencies.
  • California Department of Social Services (CDSS) and California Department of Education may provide funding for income eligible families
  • If waitlisted, you will remain on the waitlist until a space becomes available.
• Nutrition
  • Breakfast, Lunch, and afternoon snacks are provided.
  • We are mindful of children’s food allergies and religious restrictions.
• Preschool Program and Curriculum
  • RAP uses the Creative Curriculum
  • Developmentally appropriate environments
  • STEAM based activities
  • 1:8 staff to child ratio
  • Assessment

Our Centers

Contact Us

rap-childcare@lacity.org