Want to Join Us?
CDCDC has space available now for children ages 3 to 5 years old. If you are interested in joining our NAEYC accredited program, you can contact us to ask questions or schedule a tour.
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Who is eligible to attend Commerce Department Child Development Center?
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Do you allow families to place unborn children on the waiting list?
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Is there parking available for pickup and drop-off of children?
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Can we visit the Center before enrolling on the waiting list?
We are located in a secured access area within the Department of Commerce building, on 15th Street at Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC.
Yes, we are licensed by the District of Columbia (DC) Department of Health.
Yes, we are accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
What type of child care center is this?
CDCDC is an independent, non-profit child development center. We are required to comply with all DC child care regulations. As a child care center located in a Federally controlled space, we also receive oversight and support from the child care office of the General Services Administration (GSA). CDCDC is overseen by an elected parent Board. Daily operations are managed by our Director and Assistant Director.
What are your hours of operation?
CDCDC is open Monday through Friday, 7:15 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. We are closed on Federal holidays. We also close four days a year for staff training. A school calendar is published in January of each year.
Do you offer any discounts or reduced rates?
We offer a 10% second child discount. The 10% is deducted from the oldest child’s tuition rate. CDCDC offers a limited number of scholarships each year. These scholarships range in amount and are based on financial need.
Do you participate in any state subsidy programs?
We do not participate in any state subsidy programs at this time.
Who is eligible to attend Commerce Department Child Development Center?
CDCDC is open to any family; however, we prioritize our waiting list by categories. First priority is given to siblings of children already enrolled at CDCDC. Second priority is given to children of employees of the Department of Commerce, and third priority to children of employees of other Federal agencies. All other applicants receive fourth priority. We essentially maintain four waiting lists at all times.
On occasion; however, most of our spaces are filled by Department of Commerce Employees.
What is the average wait for a space in your program?
It varies based upon a number of factors that must be considered before accepting a child into the Center. We can tell you at any time what number you are on our waiting list. We also can often tell you how many openings we expect to have in a given period of time. You are encouraged to check in with the Center as often as you would like to determine how you are moving on the list.
Do you allow families to place unborn children on the waiting list?
Yes. However, we require you to specify a due date within a 9 month period of time. Please see the attached waiting list policy for more details. Families that desire to place an unborn child on our waiting list must contact us when their child is born. We will need the child’s name and date of birth. Without this information, our computer-generated waiting list will not include your name when spaces become available.
What are your adult to child ratios?
Classroom | Age | Maximum Number of Children | Number of Teachers | Adult to Child Ratio |
Bunnies 1 | Under Age 1 | 7 | 2 | 1:3.5 |
Bunnies 2 | Under Age 1 | 7 | 2 | 1:3.5 |
Teddies | One Year Olds | 12 | 4 | 1:3 |
Pandas | Two Year Olds | 12 | 3 | 1:4 |
Love Doves | Three Year Olds | 16 | 2 | 1:8 |
Dancing Bears | Four and Five Year Olds | 20 | 2 | 1:10 |
Do you serve any meals or snacks?
Yes. We serve a morning snack, lunch, and an afternoon snack. Our meals and snacks meet the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) guidelines for meals served in child care settings.
Are parents allowed to visit during the day?
We have an open door policy. We encourage you to visit your children at any time during the day. It may be helpful to keep a copy of your child’s classroom schedule as a reference when planning visits.
No, at this time CDCDC only offers full-time care.
Yes, we are located two blocks away from the Federal Triangle Metro station, and five blocks away from the Metro Center station.
Is there parking available for pickup and drop-off of children?
Yes, we have a limited number of parking spaces reserved for family use during drop-off and pick-up of children in our program.
Can we visit the Center before enrolling on the waiting list?
Yes. In fact, we highly encourage you to do so. For security reasons, we ask that families without waiting list applications on file schedule tours of our program in advance by calling (202) 482-1587.
Yes we do have an outdoor playground which was renovated in 2008. The playground cannot be seen from the street. It is in one of the courtyards inside the Department of Commerce building but can be seen from the Commerce cafeteria.
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