University of Tennessee Early Learning Center

🌟 Key Highlights: University of Tennessee Early Learning Center

The University of Tennessee Early Learning Center for Research and Practice (ELC) is a laboratory school in Knoxville, Tennessee, affiliated with the UT College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences. It is committed to a tri-part mission focused on exemplary early childhood education, interdisciplinary research on child development, and the preparation of future educators.

🏫 Overview

• Type: University-Affiliated Laboratory School (Nonsectarian)

• Location: Knoxville, Tennessee (University of Tennessee Campus Area)

• Ages/Grades Served: Infants (6 weeks) – Kindergarten

• Enrollment: Approximately 110–140 children across all programs

• Core Mission: To foster scientific understanding of young children’s development by operating as a research site, a professional preparation center for university students, and a model early childhood education program for the community.

• Accreditation: Accredited by the National Academy of Early Childhood Programs (a division of NAEYC) and is a member of the National Association of Laboratory Schools.

• Focus: High-quality, inclusive early care and education emphasizing play and project-based learning.

✅ What Makes the School Unique?

The ELC’s distinction lies in its role as both an academic laboratory and a premier educational facility:

• Laboratory School for Research and Practice: The primary differentiator is its function as a “living laboratory” for the UT College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences. Children and families participate in observation and research projects to advance the scientific understanding of child development.

• Teacher Preparation: The center plays a crucial role in training future early childhood professionals (undergraduate and graduate students) from the Department of Child and Family Studies, who gain hands-on experience by observing and assisting in the ELC classrooms.

• Curriculum Philosophy: The ELC follows a curriculum guided by principles of Social Constructivism, Developmentally Appropriate Practices (DAP), and the Reggio Emilia approach, viewing children as competent, capable, and active learners who construct knowledge through play and relationship.

• Inclusive Education: The ELC is committed to providing an exemplary, inclusive program, serving children both with and without disabilities, a mission that has been a focus since the addition of a special education component in 1983.

• Play and Project-Based Learning: Learning is facilitated through open-ended, process-oriented activities and investigations that value play as the preferred medium of learning for young children. Kindergarten uses an emergent, project-based curriculum aligned with Tennessee State Standards.

• Multifaceted Community Role: Beyond education and research, the ELC is actively engaged in outreach, advocacy, and public policy, serving as a bridge between the university and the broader community.

📞 Contact Information