Frequently Asked Questions

We post all of our jobs through the UCR Jobs portal. You can find current openings on our staff page.

Just follow this step-by-step guide to access and download a summary of your CECE payments through the LineLeader Educate parent portal.

We always want to hear from you. Start by speaking with your child's teacher or the center supervisor. Most concerns can be resolved quickly at that level.

If you're not satisfied, you're welcome to reach out to the center director. There is also a formal grievance procedure available if needed. It's provided during enrollment and can also be found in the Parent Handbook.

Staff Contacts

Parent Handbook

We'd love to show you around! Tours are available on Tuesdays and Thursdays only, with a maximum of 15 minutes per program. Available tour windows are 9:00–10:30 am and 3:00–3:45 pm, based on availability. To get started, fill out our Interest Form.

Yes! Our programs are year-round, but we are closed on select days for staff training and on campus holidays. You can view the Center's current calendar here.

UCR students, staff, faculty, and community members are all welcome to apply for childcare services at CECE. Download an application here and submit it when you're done. Or, head to our Applications section for everything you need to get started.

Your child's safety is our highest priority. Please share any allergy or asthma diagnosis with us during enrollment, along with documentation from your child's doctor.

We'll also need a completed Action Plan from the physician. This helps us respond appropriately to your child's individual needs. Action Plans must be updated every 12 months. If your child has asthma or a known allergy, an inhaler and/or Epi-Pen must be kept on site for the duration of their enrollment.

CECE staff can only administer prescription medications; non-prescription drugs and dietary supplements require written authorization from a doctor.

Medication must be brought in its original packaging with the pharmacy label intact. Upon arrival, please hand the medication directly to the office staff for secure storage and complete a medication authorization form.

Please do not leave any medication in your child's bag.

Yes! UCR participates in the California Adult Child Food Program (CACFP), which ensures children receive healthy, well-balanced meals and snacks.

CECE infants are fed either an iron-fortified or soy-based formula. Children under 12 months are fed baby food. For children over 12 months, meals are served family-style to help children develop self-help skills and foster independence.

Outside food/drinks are not allowed into the Center, except with an exception from the CECE Director, to avoid potential allergies or intolerance triggers.

We have plenty of activities and materials to keep every child happily engaged! To avoid anything getting lost, broken or causing disappointment for other children, we ask that toys stay at home. It also helps our educators stay focused on what matters most — your child's experience.

No. In our classrooms, children will experience their primary language to the best of our staff's ability. We make every effort to provide primary language instruction to all non-English speakers.

In fact, it is important and helpful for children to learn and practice more than one language, and studies show that students who have well-developed literacy skills in their primary language have a greater advantage in reaching grade-level proficiency in English.

Parents are encouraged to participate in the classroom by reading in their primary language or helping staff communicate with non-English-speaking children.

For the safety of every child in our care, you must sign your child in upon arrival, sign your child out upon departure and record the accurate time each time. No child will be released to anyone who is not listed on their emergency card, unless prior arrangements have been made with our administrative team.

If you're running late, please contact us before 9:00 AM so your child can be included in the day's meal count.

CECE is located at 3333 Watkins Drive. There, we have two buildings: CECE North and CECE South.

• CECE North visitors will park in Lot 29.
  • From Blaine Street, turn into the driveway for Parking Lot 27. Turn left at the first opportunity. Continue straight, and you will see a sign for Parking Lot 29. You can park in any space that is labeled "Parent." 
• CECE South visitors will park in Lot 28.
  • From Blaine Street, turn south onto Watkins Drive. Turn right at the first opportunity. Turn right again into Parking Lot 28. You can park in any space that is labeled "Parent."

For additional information, please see our Location & Directions section here.

No. CECE staff will begin toilet training when your child is around 2 years old (or older, depending on the child's readiness/development and parental permission).

Parents and staff will work together to plan and implement toilet training, and parents should be prepared to continue toilet training at home to support the child's toilet independence. Parents should also feel free to communicate any special techniques they use at home so staff can ensure consistency. 

Your home culture is something we genuinely celebrate here. We warmly encourage families to share aspects of their culture and family life with our educators — it enriches the experience for every child in our community and helps your little one feel truly seen and at home.

CECE has an Open Door Policy: We don't just welcome family involvement, we actively encourage it! Ways to participate include sharing feedback on your child's program, volunteering in the classroom, contributing your skills and experiences, attending center events and joining committees. There's a place here for every family.

We know every family has a different schedule and communication style, and we know drop-off and pick-up can be hectic. That's why we use a variety of channels to keep you connected and informed, including:

• Newsletters
• Phone calls
• Emails
• Letters
• Face-to-face conversations
• Formal meetings
• MomentPath notifications