About Us

Lancaster Early Education Center

Quality education & care since 1915.
About us

About Us

Our Mission

What We Stand For

Lancaster Early Education Center is a non-profit charitable organization committed to providing affordable, high-quality early care and education to children from working families.

Every parent deserves to be able to afford exceptional education & care for their children.

 

About Us

Lancaster Early Education Center formerly Lancaster Day Care Center Quality early care & education since 1915. in Downtown Lancaster, PA

About Us

Our Facilities

Our schools are safe & secure, filled with staff who truly love each child.

For the safety of everyone at LEEC, we use a digital key card entry access system. A key card is required to enter and navigate our building. There are multiple touchpoints throughout our facility to help ensure the safety and security of everyone.

When your child is at LEEC, you can rest assured they are safe.

Read our COVID-19 Pandemic Healthy & Safety Plan & Procedures

About Us

Our expansion was largely made possible by a very generous group of donors.

Thank you to everyone who made this project a reality. 

Clark Family
Foundation 

Russo Family
Foundation 

Witmer Family
Foundation 

The Gooding Group Foundation

And a big thank you to all of our individual donors as well! 

Lancaster Early Education Center Playground

About Us

Our Vision

Every family should be able to afford quality care & Education

What makes us unique, is that we make high-uality early care & education affordable. Every child deserves an equal opportunity in life.

Poverty is a cycle, and if a parent cannot afford child care, how are they expected to be able to work to provide for their family?

When a parent comes to LEEC, they show they are a FT employee or student – then we help make up the difference in what they cannot afford, to ensure their children can attend.

 

We are actively breaking the cycle of poverty and educating children to have brighter futures!

About Us

How We Implement Our Vision

Curriculum & Philosophy

Creative Curriculum

Lancaster Early Education Center uses the Creative Curriculum for Infants, Toddlers and Twos and the Creative Curriculum for Preschool. The Creative Curriculum is aligned with the Pennsylvania Early Learning Standards for Infants and Toddlers and Pre-Kindergarten. In addition, the curriculum supports our belief that children learn best through play. We create intentional, individualized learning experiences designed for each child in the program. Teachers use children’s interests to create a meaningful curriculum, using engaging instruction and stimulating materials.

Developmentally Appropriate Practices, the recommended guidelines of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), provides the policy framework for all program planning. Each classroom incorporates either the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s Preschool Early Learning Standards or the Infant and Toddler Learning Standards in curriculum planning and child assessment.

Our program is designed on the premise that providing children with an environment rich in experiences and choices encourages self-reliance, self-worth, and self-confidence. We believe that children learn best through play which is self-directed and which provides activities and routines that enhance their growth and development.

PATHS
  • Lancaster Early Education Center is proud to use PATHS – a research-based social/emotional curriculum. This curriculum is used in addition to the Creative Curriculum. The PATHS® program has been proven to help build executive functions (EFs) in developing brains. These skills are proven predictors of math and reading competence throughout a child’s school career. EFs include impulse control, problem-solving, working memory, reasoning, and planning. In rigorous clinical studies, the PATHS® Program has been shown to: reduce teachers’ reports of students exhibiting aggressive behavior by 32%, increase teachers’ reports of students exhibiting self-control by 36%, increase students’ vocabulary for emotions by 68%, significantly improve students’ ability to tolerate frustration plus their ability and willingness to use effective conflict-resolution strategies. In addition to positive social/emotional outcomes, the use of the curriculum has proven to enhance student academic performance by improving performance on state achievement tests in reading, math, and writing, increasing students’ scores on cognitive skills tests by 20% and significant, sustained gains in student engagement.
Positive Behavior Support Model

Positive Behavior Support (PBS) is a highly effective prevention approach for addressing challenging behavior. Based on the teaching pyramid, the development of relationships is at the core of the teaching pyramid model. The fostering of positive, reciprocal relationships with children and their families is absolutely essential. These relationships serve as the foundation for all interactions, support, and teaching opportunities.

Lancaster Early Education Center’s United for Children initiative intentionally teaches the following social skills which have been identified as critical to a child’s success in school:

Getting along with others
Following directions
Identifying and regulating emotions
Thinking of solutions to conflict
Persisting on a task
Engaging in social conversations
Engaging in cooperative play

Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts

Lancaster Early Education Center’s Pre-K Counts (PKC) is designed for children who are 4 years old before the start of the academic school year. PKC is a Department of Education funded classroom for children who meet the guidelines for income, language, or are considered “at-risk” for school failure. This classroom operates for 180 days during the school year, for 5 hours daily based on the School District of Lancaster School calendar. The program furnishes activities that enhance each child’s growth and development in a positive manner. Pennsylvania’s Early Learning Standards (ELS) are used in curriculum development. The Creative Curriculum provides the framework for individualizing curriculum for each child. Click here to Apply Now!

About Us

Offering the Best Care

Licensing & Quality

Licensing & Inspection to
Confirm Exceptional Care

Lancaster Early Education Center is dually licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) and the Department of Human Services (DHS).

Our facility is inspected annually by PDE, DHS, the Lancaster City Fire Inspector, and the Lancaster City Department of Health.

Keystone STAR 4

Lancaster Early Education Center is a Keystone STAR 4 center (which is the highest level attainable in the state of Pennsylvania). The STARS program is an initiative of the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) to improve, support, and recognize the continuous quality improvement efforts of early learning programs in Pennsylvania.

There are 4 levels of quality (4 stars being the best). Each level builds on the previous level and utilizes researched-based best practices to promote early learning environments and positive child outcomes. The standards address staff qualifications and professional development, the early learning program, partnerships with family and community, leadership, and management.

Infant program at Lancaster Early Education Center formerly Lancaster Day Care Center Quality early care & education since 1915.

Accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)

Lancaster Early Education Center has earned accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)—the world’s largest organization working on behalf of young children.

Read More About Our NAEYC Quality

Accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)

June 2019 – Lancaster Early Education Center has earned accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)—the world’s largest organization working on behalf of young children.

NAEYC Accreditation is a rigorous and transformative quality-improvement system that uses a set of 10 research-based standards to collaborate with early education programs to recognize and drive quality-improvement in high-quality early learning environments. “We’re proud to have earned the mark of quality from NAEYC, and to be recognized for our commitment to reaching the highest professional standards,” said Nina Moragne, CEO of Lancaster Early Education Center. Lancaster Early Education Center is one of the first child care centers in our nation, established in 1915 as Lancaster Day Nursery. The mission of the center has remained the same – to provide affordable, high quality, early care and education to children from low-income working families.

To earn NAEYC Accreditation, Lancaster Early Education Center went through an extensive self-study and quality-improvement process, followed by an on-site visit by NAEYC Assessors to verify and ensure that the program met each of the ten program standards, and hundreds of corresponding individual criteria. NAEYC-accredited programs are always prepared for unannounced quality-assurance visits during their accreditation term, which lasts for five years.

In the 30 years since NAEYC Accreditation was established, it has become a widely recognized sign of high-quality early childhood education. More than 7,000 programs are currently accredited by NAEYC—less than 10 percent of all child care centers, preschools, and kindergartens nationally achieve this recognition.

“NAEYC-Accredited programs bring our definitions of excellence for early childhood education to life each day,” said Kristen Johnson, senior director of Early Learning Program Accreditation at NAEYC. “Earning NAEYC Accreditation makes Lancaster Early Education Center an exemplar of good practice for families and the entire community.”

Meet the Leadership

LEEC Leadership

About Us

Nina Moragne

CEO

I love Lancaster Early Education Center for so many reasons. Come visit us, so you can see first hand why this place is so special! Whether you are a potential donor or a family seeking early care and education, we would love to show you around.

Madeline Reynolds

Director

I have worked at LEEC since 2014 and love everything about it. The kids, the families, and the teachers. It feels like home. Both of my children attend LEEC and have had amazing experiences. They both love their teachers and look forward to coming to school each day. The learning community we have is so special and I cannot imagine myself or my kids being anywhere else! 

About Us

Staff You Can Trust

At Lancaster Early Education Center we recognize that highly qualified teaching professionals are the cornerstone of a quality program. We are proud to employ a diverse group of highly qualified teachers. Our team has extensive knowledge and training in the field of early childhood education. All of our staff have a degree or credential that qualifies them to work with young children. We are proud to support our team’s education by offering extensive opportunities for professional development and pursuit of higher education. All of our staff have training in First Aid/CPR and emergency procedures. Additionally, our staff maintains a professional development plan that allows them to attend training annually based upon their specific professional goals.

Our team unties around a common goal of providing developmentally appropriate and respectful care and education to young children.

Voted #1 Best Places to Work

2021 Best Places to Work in Lancaster, PA

LNP 2021 Best Places to work in Lancaster PA - LEEC Voted #1 in Fun & Learning!!

Start a Career You Love

If you’re looking for a career that you are excited about every day, LEEC may be for you! 
Click below to learn about what it’s like to work at LEEC and to apply to join our team!

About Us

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Testimonials

What Parents are Saying

The LEEC teachers are great. Every day when I drop off my daughter, her teacher meets us with a smile and a positive attitude. She treats them all equally and makes them feel loved. She’s the kind of teacher that treats the kids like her own. I appreciate that my child is with someone who cares.”

Angie R.

Parent of a child who attended LEEC

You know that your child is in the right school when he wants for the weekend to be over so he can go back to school. Thanks, Ms. Megan and Ms. Laura! My kid is learning a lot more than that, he loves his teachers and I appreciate that.

Stephanie G.

Parent of a child who attended LEEC

I feel like LEEC is part of our extended family. They provide her with formula, diapers, and wipes while she is at school. This is such a savings. My baby loves to go to school. The parent app is really awesome too. I get to see pictures of her throughout the day along with how many ounces she drank and her diaper changes.”
Maria D.

Parent of a child who attended LEEC

Hello, I just wanted to reach out and give positive feedback. Danielle is AMAZING with Jerry and every other kid in the classroom. She is always cheerful and very pleasant. She makes leaving Jerry so much more comfortable. I really enjoy her as Jerry’s teacher! I also wanted to thank you, the pictures Amiyah definitely helped! Very happy!”

Brianna S.

Parent of a child who attended LEEC

“I love LEEC! I feel like my kids are safe and secure here. They are always so happy to go every day and the staff is so friendly. It gives me peace of mind that they eat healthy too. My kids come home and share their lessons with me. I’m very grateful for those that have looked after my little ones for the past few years!”

Marisa F.

Parent of a child who attended LEEC

“I am so happy that LEEC is part of my child’s learning journey. I love getting the pictures and updates through the parent app.
Yamile R.

Parent of a child who attended LEEC

We love LEEC! We love the teachers, the activities they do, the meals, the updates, the pictures sent throughout the day, the bathrooms designed for toddlers making it easier to potty train and the safety.”

Colleen S.

Parent of a child who attended LEEC

When it comes to the care of your children, it is vital to find a place that you can put all of your trust into.  I found that in LEEC.  From day one the staff has been consistent, caring, and nurturing to my children.  Not only are they amazing in the social and emotional development of the kids, I feel as though they provide an excellent learning environment.  My children come home happy and are excited every day to go to school.  I have seen major growth in my children as a result of their program and could not be happier.  As a mother, having a daycare that I feel as though my children are safe, cared for, and happy is priceless.”

Kimberly C.

Parent of a child who attended LEEC

About Us

Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ

What are your operating hours?

We are open Monday through Friday from 6:30am until 5:30pm.

How long have you been in business?

We were established in 1915 and have been open ever since, making us one of the nation’s oldest, continually operating child care centers.

Are you licensed and accredited?

Yes and yes. We are dually licensed by the PA Dept. of Education and by the PA Dept. of Human Services. We are also accredited by on the state and national level. We are a Keystone STAR 4 child care center (which is the highest level) and nationally accredited by National Association of the Education of Young Children – NAEYC https://www.naeyc.org/our-work/families/10-naeyc-program-standards

Do I have to pay tuition for my child to attend your Center?

Yes, we charge tuition for all full-day programming. We do offer a sliding scale discount to those who qualify. We also encourage families to apply for the state child care subsidy at https://www.dhs.pa.gov/Services/Children/Pages/Child-Care-Works-Program.aspx

Is South Queen Street a good neighborhood? Will my child be safe?

We are located just one block South of the Lancaster County Convention Center. Our building is secured with digital access cards on every entrance/exit door. We use a biometric system to check-in/out all children. Our facility is very safe.

How can I get in touch with someone at the Center?

Email is our preferred method of communication. Please email info@LEEC.org or use the contact us page.

Do you have parking?

We have a School Drop-Off / Pick-Up Zone that spans the length of all of our buildings. It is highlighted with a yellow curb. Parents may use this area when dropping off and picking up.

What do I need to provide when my child is enrolled?

Parents need to provide 2 changes of clothing to have on hand in case of accidents (including socks and underwear). Your child may also bring a nap blanket from home to sleep with (we can also provide one here).

Do I need to provide diapers?

LEEC only provides diapers and wipes for Infants, Toddlers, and Tweens. If your child is in Pre-K or Preschool you will need to provide pull-ups if applicable.

What is the Pre-K Counts program?

Pre-K Counts is a Pre-K Program for 3 & 4-year-old children that is free to eligible families. This program prepares children for Kindergarten. Families enrolled only in the Pre-K Counts program do not pay for the program, however, they must pay for key cards to access our facility. The program runs 8a-1:30p on a school-year calendar. There are before and aftercare services available for an additional charge.

How can I add an authorized pick up person for my child?

You can add an authorized pickup person for your child by filling out this form and emailing it to info@leec.org.

We will then verify with you in person that we received and processed your form. 

Authorized Pick-Up Person Form

Lancaster Early Education Center is a Keystone STAR 4 (Pennsylvania’s highest quality rating), NAEYC Accredited, non-profit organization dedicated to delivering the highest quality child care and early childhood education experience to our students.

About Us

Open Positions

Now hiring full-time and part-time floating teacher positions!

Click the toggles below to expand and read about each role.

Part-Time Floating Teacher

Flexible times & hours.

Teaching Responsibilities include:

  • Meeting the individual needs of the children, and interacting with our students to support play, exploration, and learning.
  • Assist with planning and implementation of activities that develop self-esteem and social skills.
  • Communicate professionally with parents and fellow staff.
  • Build teamwork.
  • Use assessment tools.
  • Provide the highest quality child care and early education.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Previous experience in a licensed preschool or early learning center.
  • Early Childhood CDA.
  • Two-year degree in Early Childhood Education.
  • Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, Special Education, Elementary Education, or other related field.
  • Two years documented prior childcare or teaching experience, strongly preferred.

Required Qualifications:

  • High School diploma (equivalent GED) required. CDA Preferred.
  • Complies with all state education and licensing standards, and maintains validation of credentials for the position.
  • Must be 18 years of age or older.

Lancaster Early Education Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

LEEC offers competitive compensation and benefits based on experience and education. 

 

Full-Time Floating Teacher

Typical Hours: Monday-Friday between the hours of 6:30am and 5:30pm.

Daily Teaching Responsibilities include:

  • Meeting the individual needs of the children, interacting with our students to support play, exploration, and learning.
  • Assist with planning and implementation of activities that develop self-esteem and social skills.
  • Communicate professionally with parents and fellow staff.
  • Build teamwork.
  • Use assessment tools.
  • Provide the highest quality child care and early education.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Previous experience in a licensed preschool or early learning center.
  • Early Childhood CDA.
  • Two-year degree in Early Childhood Education.
  • Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, Special Education, Elementary Education, or other related field.
  • Two years documented prior childcare or teaching experience, strongly preferred.

Required Qualifications:

  • High School diploma (equivalent GED) required. CDA Preferred.
  • Complies with all state education and licensing standards, and maintains validation of credentials for the position.
  • Must be 18 years of age or older.

Lancaster Early Education Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

LEEC offers competitive compensation and benefits based on experience and education. 

General Employment Requirements:

  • A minimum of 18 years of age
  • A high school diploma or higher educational degree, or a CDA (Child Development Associate certification)
  • Two years of prior childcare experience that can be documented with references
  • FBI Fingerprint, PA Criminal Background Check, NSOR Clearance and PA Child Abuse Background Check
  • Health Assessment with a negative TB test
  • Valid government-issued photo identification

 

We are always looking for good people!

Click on the button to learn more about the life-giving careers at LEEC and to apply.

We’d love to meet you!
Click the button to apply.

Volunteer at LEEC

Volunteer

Looking for a fun & meaningful way to give back?

Consider volunteering at the LEEC! We need volunteers who would love to:

  • Rock and play with babies.
  • Sing and dance with toddlers.
  • Read and build with preschoolers.
  • Share your talent and love.
  • Front desk/clerical.

    About Us

    Sound like you?

    Reach out to let us know you’re interested in volunteering at the LEEC!

    What Happens Next?

    We will contact qualified candidates to schedule an interview once your volunteer application in complete. We want to ensure we match your interests and skills with the available volunteer opportunities.

    Prior to starting your volunteer experience, we require the following:
    How to obtain your clearances:

    The Child Protective Services Law (CPSL) requires certain individuals to obtain clearances in order to be employed, be a resource parent (foster or adoptive), or be a volunteer with children. The purpose for requiring clearances is to provide employers and those selecting volunteers with information to use as a part of a larger decision-making process when determining whether to hire someone as an employee or select them as a volunteer.

    Clearances are required for an employee or unpaid volunteer at a minimum of every 60 months from the date of the oldest clearance. Clearances may be required more frequently based on licensure or employer requirements.

    Agencies and organizations must ensure that clearances are obtained in accordance with the CPSL. The required clearances include:

    Lancaster Early Education Center formerly Lancaster Day Care Center Quality early care & education since 1915.
    Supporting Sustainability

    Our Green Roof

    There are only a handful of green roofs in Lancaster City.

    Our roof is one of them!

    The benefits of our green roof include a rainwater buffer, air purification, reduction in ambient temperatures, saves energy and encourages biodiversity in the city.

      About Us

      LEEC Lancaster Early Education Center's Green Roof! One of the only in Lancaster, PA! Creating Sustainability
      LEEC Lancaster Early Education Center's Green Roof! One of the only in Lancaster, PA! Creating Sustainability

      Families Served since 1915

      Years Established

      Over 108 Years of Impact

      The LEEC family is a web of families that spans 108 years of Lancaster, PA’s history. It not only includes our parents and their children, but it’s also our staff, our donors, our volunteers, and every single person who’s supported LEEC along the way.

      Donating to the LEEC Impacts Lancaster for Generations

      About Us

      Celebrated 100 Years in 2015

      About Us

      A History of Care Since 1915!

      1915

      As men went off to war, women began working in the factories, and child care was needed. Over a century ago, we opened our doors to the public as Lancaster Day Nursery. 

      1988

      We embarked on major renovations to all buildings which took over two years to complete.

      1939

      As we continued to serve working families, our need to expand became necessary and we purchased properties at 144-146 South Queen Street for $3,500.

      1998

      The “sunshine” logo is created and used in all marketing materials. We used this logo for more than 20 years.

      1966

      With the civil rights movement, more women joined the workforce and we purchased additional properties at 148-150 South Queen Street for $16,900.

      2014

      The kitchen and playground were renovated thanks to our generous donors and the security systems were upgraded with cameras and key card access to all doors.

      1981

      Most families were now dual-income and we changed our name to Lancaster Day Care Center to better reflect the times.

      2015

      We celebrated our 100th Anniversary! To better reflect our organization’s mission and vision of providing every child with high-quality Early Education we rebranded with a new name and logo!

      1915

      As men went off to war, women began working in the factories, and child care was needed. Over a century ago, we opened our doors to the public as Lancaster Day Nursery. 

      1939

      As we continued to serve working families, our need to expand became necessary and we purchased properties at 144-146 South Queen Street for $3,500.

      1966

      With the civil rights movement, more women joined the workforce and we purchased additional properties at 148-150 South Queen Street for $16,900.

      1981

      Most families were now dual-income and we changed our name to Lancaster Day Care Center to better reflect the times.

      1988

      We embarked on major renovations to all buildings which took over two years to complete.

      1998

      The “sunshine” logo is created and used in all marketing materials. We used this logo for more than 20 years.

      2014

      The kitchen and playground were renovated thanks to our generous donors and the security systems were upgraded with cameras and key card access to all doors.

      2015

      We celebrated our 100th Anniversary! To better reflect our organization’s mission and vision of providing every child with high-quality Early Education we rebranded with a new name and logo!

      Lancaster Early Education Center formerly Lancaster Day Care Center Quality early care & education since 1915.
      Non-Discrimination Policy

      Lancaster Early Education Center does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, hiring and firing of staff, selection of volunteers and vendors, and provision of services. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, clients, volunteers, subcontractors, vendors, and clients.

      Thanks so much for coming to learn About Us at the LEEC.

      We are here for anyone searching for childcare Lancaster PA, daycare Lancaster PA, daycare near me, daycare centers near me, infant daycare near me, best daycare near me, affordable daycare near me, cheap daycare near me, child daycare near me, childcare centers near me, KinderCare daycare, good daycare near me, find a daycare near me, top daycares near me, childcare for working parents, local childcare, Preschool, Pre-K, Pre-K Counts, Pre Kindergarten, free preschool, learning center pa, pa learning center, daycare and learning center near me, ccis Lancaster pa, learning centers near me, pa childcare, daycare learning centers near me, let them play learning center, learning experience daycare near me, pa daycare, academy preschool, preschool academy near me, preschool academies, Lancaster preschool, summer preschools near me, best private preschools near me, private schools Lancaster, preschools around me, daycare schools near me, best private preschool near me, preschool near to me, the best preschool near me, private preschools near me, lancaster pa private schools, preschool near me, stem schools near me, jobs in preschools near me, preschools schools near me, daycare preschool near me, & child daycare. Visit our facebook page, Instagram & youtube to get a feel for who we are as well as read throughout About page. Reach out if you have any questions through our contact page!!

      If you're in need of free pre-k for your children & you work full-time, you may be eligible for Pre-K counts which offers free Pre-kindergarten care to eligible working parents. To learn more about & register for Pre-K counts: https://lancasterearlyeducation.org/programs-offered/#pck

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