Frequently Asked Questions

The program is open from September to mid August. Our hours are 8:00 AM – 5:45 PM.

The Family Center serves children ages 6 months through 5 years.

The Family Center is an early childhood education program for families who are looking for a childcare or extended-hour daycare option. In our program, young children learn and grow in a dynamic, nurturing learning environment that encourages play and discovery. Our program sets the foundation for future learning by helping children develop their social, emotional, and cognitive skills from an early age.

The Family Center is a fully inclusive setting in which children in both the General and Special Education childcare programs share the same classrooms, and teachers individualize activities to meet each child’s physical, social-emotional, language, and cognitive needs.

The Family Center is located on the Upper West Side of New York City at 610 West 112th Street between Broadway and Riverside Drive. Our building is just two blocks from the Broadway local No. 1 train stop at 110th Street and Broadway (the Cathedral Parkway stop).

As part of the larger Bank Street College of Education, the Family Center shares a building with the School for Children and the Graduate School of Education.

We invite you to request an application as the first step in the admissions process.

The Family Center offers a full-day, year-round childcare program for children between the ages of 6 months to 5 years and is fully inclusive, providing both general education and special education services.

Bank Street School for Children is a private preschool through eighth-grade school for children ages 3–14 years old. The preschool program serves children who are 3 years old by September 1 of the year of entry; the pre-kindergarten program serves children who are 4 years old by September 1.

As part of Bank Street College of Education, the Family Center and School for Children have a unique connection to a larger community grounded in over a century of knowledge on how children learn best. This fosters a collaborative space with shared resources and expertise that enriches the educational experience for all learners.

Family Foundations Groups at the Family Center allow parents of young children to connect with and learn from a community of child development experts and other parents.

The Family Center conducts special education evaluations for preschool children (ages 3–5), including for children who do not participate in the Family Center program.

Families are welcome to apply before having their IEP meeting, but admission to the program is contingent upon being approved for Special Class in an Integrated Setting (SCIS).

The Family Center does not accept childcare vouchers.