Early Learning Center

The University of Delaware Early Learning Center (ELC) provides full-day early care and education to children ages six weeks to twelve years and their families in a state-of-the-art facility conveniently located near main campus.  The building includes observation decks, cameras and recording devices to enhance the ELC’s mission of integrated service, education through clinical experiences, and research.  Housed within the Early Learning Center is the UD-ELC Pediatric Rehabilitation Clinic which provides physical, occupational and speech therapy to children attending the ELC as well as the general community.  The target population of the ELC is 40% children living in poverty, 20% children with a diagnosed disability, and 10% children who currently live, or have lived, in foster care.  The Early Learning Center aims to provide best practices to the community; train new professionals to serve children and their families; and to develop – through research and program evaluation – new knowledge that can be used to better serve multiple fields of study.