What is a Lab School?
Ruth Staples Child Development Laboratory is a high-quality children’s program where college students train to be teachers and scholars learn more about young children through research. As a teacher training facility, we develop innovative educational approaches and model best practice in the field of early childhood education. Our nationally accredited program offers full day childcare services for children 18 months-5 years. The lab school also provides opportunities for research on children, families, and teacher education to UNL faculty, students and affiliated professionals. The CDL strives to develop new and relevant knowledge about children’s development and relationships, families, and teacher education through research that addresses significant current issues and questions.
If interested in conducting research at the CDL please contact Jenny Leeper Miller at jleeper2@unl.edu.
Why choose a NAEYC-accredited program?
NAEYC accreditation is an indicator of a high-quality program. You can be assured that your child is in good hands. The accreditation process examines the total program, emphasizing quality interactions among staff and children and a developmentally appropriate curriculum. Accredited programs have met NAEYC’s 10 standards for high-quality early childhood education. These programs have demonstrated that they provide a safe and healthy environment for children, have teachers who are well-trained, have access to excellent teaching materials, and work with a curriculum that is appropriately challenging and developmentally sound.
Quality Matters. Ruth Staples CDL is proud to acknowledge early care and education is crucial to a child’s future success. The Step Up to Quality program provides early childhood programs with the supports and resources to provide the highest of quality of care to children and families. The Ruth Staples is working through the criteria and is currently at a Step 3 working towards a Step 5.
License & Accreditation
The Ruth Staples Child Development Lab (CDL) is licensed by the state of Nebraska and accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. The program must continually meet all criteria set down by both entities and it is the responsibility of all teachers to be familiar with these criteria. Adherence to licensing and accreditation criteria is considered as a part of faculty annual evaluations.
