Currently, certain limitations in child care facilities on campus limit parents to half-day schedules that do not include university breaks.

Beginning in the fall, however, the Child Development Laboratory School will offer year-round, day-long child care services.

Carol Alexander Phillips, administrator of human development and family studies, said the program for school-age children, and the half-day, eight-week preschool sessions, will continue through the summer. After a summer transition period, the new programs will begin in the fall.

The new program will allow parents more flexibility, Phillips said. “It allows adult family members to be more productive and they don’t have to worry about arranging transportation,” she said.

Phillips said the change will also be an economic benefit for employers. “The employer has a person who can devote their time and energy to their job rather than worrying about their child,” she said.

As a result of the changes, she said, the cost of child care at the laboratory school will move from a semester fee to a higher monthly fee.

Susan Hegland, faculty coordinator for the laboratory school, said the cost changes are necessary.

“We will have to be moving to market rates . that are comparable to other high-quality care,” said Hegland, associate professor of human development and family studies.

She said the previous rates were unrealistic and the school had to pay its staff at a professional level.

Phillips said most reaction has been positive as parents know the quality of the care.

With 79 percent of children under five years old having working parents, the changes at the school meet a simple need, Phillips said. The new schedule will also offer more opportunities for students to observe and interact with the children.

“It opens up the schedule so that it’s easier to match up with university student schedules,” Phillips said. “You know you’ll have children there when students need to observe.”

In addition to children’s well-being, Phillips said diversity is important to the school.

“We are very committed to having a diversity in terms of the cultural and racial background of children and their families as well as income level,” Phillips said. “We’re actively seeking help for low-income families.”