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

* Select a facilities' name for more site specific information
Center NameAddressPhoneTentative Opening*
Jim Gilliam Child Care Center
Director: Catherine Hilliard
(Catherine.hilliard@lacity.org)
State Licensed Preschool #191871609
4000 S. La Brea Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90008
(323) 291-5929Currently Open
Ralph M. Parsons Preschool
Director: Micha Mims
(micha.mims@lacity.org)
State Licensed Preschool #198010126
841 Martin Luther King Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90037
(213) 763-5119Currently Open
Victory Valley Child Care Center
Director: Brenda Shaw
(brenda.shaw@lacity.org)
State Licensed Preschool # 195700010
6451 Saint Clair Avenue
North Hollywood, CA 91606
(818) 764-1679Currently Open
Branford Child Care Center
Director: Rosalyn Soils
(rosalyn.soils@lacity.org)
State Licensed Preschool # 197750141
13306 Branford Street
Arleta, CA 91331
(818) 891-6205Currently Open
Van Ness Child Care Center
Director: Valerie Norris
(valerie.norris@lacity.org)
State Licensed Preschool # TBD
5720 2nd Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90043
 Opening Soon
South Park Child Care Center
Director: Nicole White
State Licensed Preschool # TBD
345 East 51st Street
Los Angeles, CA 90011
 Opening Soon
Ira C. Massey Child Care Center
Director: Edwina Rambo
(edwina.rambo@lacity.org)
State Licensed Preschool # 195700081
5001 Obama Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90016
(323) 290-2337Currently Open
Evergreen Child Care Center
Director: Sasha Duarte
(sasha.duarte@lacity.org)
State Licensed Preschool # 198021184
211 S. Evergreen Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90033
(323) 263-2816Currently Open
Hubert Humphrey Child Care Center
Director: Melinda Sims
(melinda.sims@lacity.org)
State Licensed Preschool # 197750154
12560 Fillmore Street
Pacoima, CA 91331
(818) 899-3445Currently Open
Echo Park Child Care Center
Director: Raquel Jamerson
(raquel.jamerson@lacity.org)
State Licensed Preschool # 198021357
515 Laveta Terrace
Los Angeles, CA 90026
(213) 240-3006Opening Soon
Downey Child Care Center
Director: Allison Tillman
(allison.tillman@lacity.org)
State Licensed Preschool # 198021207
219 South Avenue 18
Los Angeles, CA 90031
(323) 227-7752Currently Open
Banning Child Care Center
Director: Natalie Anguiano
State Licensed Preschool # TBD
1331 Eubank Avenue
Wilmington, CA 90744
 LATE 2024