We offer both preschool programs and school-age child care programs throughout Santa Monica. We welcome the opportunity to work with children who have special needs and their parents to determine how we can support every child's successful participation in our programs.

The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District offers an extended day preschool experience for 6.5 hours a day for 3 to 5 year old children through the Head Start and State Preschool programs. Families enrolled in this program need to meet income criteria and live, work or attend school in the SMMUSD attendance area. Children are introduced to traditional preschool activities in an environment that stresses the importance of play as the child's primary form of learning. The curriculum focuses on the active learning process where children learn by doing planned activities designed by the classroom staff. In addition to this the children are offered lunch and snacks daily as part of the Child Care Food Program. The classrooms are located at various school sites within the district. The program provides comprehensive prevention and early intervention services to meet the needs of children in the areas of health, nutrition, education and any support services that may be required to assist each child in being successful in school. The experiences are individualized and include activities focused on social/emotional relationships, language and literacy, numeracy, science creative arts, and physical development.

An integral part of the program involves parent involvement through parent education and volunteer activities. Each classroom has monthly parent education and communication meetings to discuss current events, plan special activities, and learn more about issues affecting today's families. If you are interested in enrolling your child in our preschool program, please call the Child Development Services office at (310) 399-5865.

Children with special needs are served throughout our preschool and school-age programs. In addition, at two of our preschool sites, we collaborate with the Special Education Department to provide full-inclusion programs in which children with special needs receive their Special Education services within the regular morning preschool classrooms.

CREST brings together Child Care, Recreation, Enrichment and Sports as Santa Monica's before and after school program for children in kindergarten through 5th grade. A partnership of the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District and the City of Santa Monica, CREST boasts a rich array of flexible program options for students and families. Our staff plans every CREST activity with the ages and interests of children in mind. All efforts are made to include children with special needs.

CHILD CARE

CREST's child care option combines education, sports, recreation, and enrichment activities to meet the needs of children who would otherwise be unsupervised before and after their regular school days. Open to all children attending elementary schools in Santa Monica within SMMUSD, this program option's focus is to meet the needs of working families. Families may choose a full-time or part-time option. Child care is available during school breaks including the summer months.

The Grade K-3 program offers center-based care provided by teachers and assistants from Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District, Child Development Services. The children's daily routine includes homework assistance, outdoor and indoor play activities such as organized sports, arts and crafts, storytelling, music, cooking, theme-based projects that support classroom activities, and a variety of enrichment classes. If you are interested in enrolling your child in the Primary CREST program, please call the Child Development Services office at (310) 399-5865.

The City of Santa Monica staff operates the full-time program for children in Grades 4-5. With adult guidance and supervision, older elementary children exercise more independent judgement in planning and choosing their acuities which include sports, homework assistance and enrichment classes. For more information regarding the Upper CREST 4-5 program, visit their website at www.ci.santa-monica.ca.us or call the Youth Office at (310) 458-8540.

Full-Time Option

Full time child care includes before-school care from 7:00 a.m. until the regular school day begins and after-school care from school dismissal to 6:00 p.m.

Part-Time Options

A.M. Care

Parents who need to drop off their children at school beginning at 7:00 a.m. may choose a morning-only program option. Activities include preparation for the school day, arts and crafts, board games and opportunities for playtime with friends.

Early Express

This after-school part-time option operates from the time of kindergarten dismissal until 2:45 p.m. Early Express is designed for parents who need child care for their kindergartner until their older sibling is dismissed from school.

Teen Centers at both John Adams and Lincoln Middle Schools provide safe, supervised and interesting activities for sixth through eighth graders. Every day after school, the Teen Centers offer students a relaxed atmosphere where they can socialize, have a snack and get homework done. The staff at each Center responds to the teens' growing need for independence and autonomy by involving them in planning the program and the environment, and creating opportunities for positive peer interactions.

Program Options and Hours

The Teen Centers offer the flexibility of a 2-day, 3-day, or 5-day schedule. The program includes before-school care from 7:00 a.m. until the regular school day begins and after-school care from school dismissal to 6:00 p.m. If you are interested in enrolling your child in the Teen Center program, please call the Child Development Services office at (310) 399-5865.