Center Overview
DTNA and CCLC are proud to announce the opening of the First Gear Academy. The center provides care for children ranging in age from 6 weeks through 5 years.

The exciting brand new center, provides full and part week as well as part day schedules. The operating hours are Monday - Friday 6:00AM – 6:00PM. The center can accommodate approximately 100 children in ten classrooms and two beautiful playgrounds.

Location
The physical address of the center is 4435 N Channel Avenue. The center provides a unique environment that meets children's developmental needs as well as meets the current national and state safety standards for a child care center. The center has large play yards that are designed to provide interesting experiences for children as well as to support an outdoor curriculum. 

Center Quality & Features

1. NAEYC Standards: First Gear Academy offers a high-quality, developmentally appropriate curriculum with low teacher / child ratios. The center will be set up to meet and in some cases exceed the accreditation standards set by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) -- a highly regarded child development organization. NAEYC standards are only achieved by 8% of all 110,000 programs nationally. The center will apply for NAEYC accreditation when eligible, after one year of operation.

2. Low Ratios: The center operates with low teacher to child ratios and small group sizes. This will allow our teaching staff to focus more on small group and individual needs of each child. Children transition from age group to age group based on development in the infant and toddler programs.

Comparison between CCLC and State requirements:

Guided Discovery Curriculum: First Gear Academy utilizes CCLC's exclusive Guided Discovery Curriculum^TM. CCLC incorporates physical, social, language, cognitive and emotional development. Guided Discovery is rooted in educational philosophy and theory as well as practice.