FAQs
FAQs
The PCC is open on weekdays from 7:30 AM to 6 PM. The Center offers full- and partial-week programs with a minimum of a two-day schedule. Priority placement is given to families who select a five-day schedule. We do not offer partial-day schedules.
Children in the following three developmental age groups* are eligible to attend PCC. We do not have a kindergarten program.
- Infant: 3 months to approximately 15 months
- Toddler: 12 months to 35 months
- Preschool: 3 to 5 years
*The PCC team will work with you to determine the correct age grouping for children on the cusp of aging up into the next cohort.
Enrollment is open to all members of the University and surrounding communities; enrollment preference is given to families with an active Penn affiliation.
PCC currently has a waitlist for all developmental age groups.
Placement preference is given to families with an active Penn affiliation. Applicants are strongly encouraged to seek alternate childcare arrangements in the event a space is not available at their desired enrollment date.
Your family automatically enters our waitlist when your application and $25 application fee are received. In order to remain on the waitlist, families are required to check in with the Center on a monthly basis. Failure to do so will result in removal from the waitlist.
If funding is available, Penn-affiliated families who meet requirements may receive fee assistance on a first-come, first-served basis.
Yes, PCC accepts enrollment of families receiving publicly funded childcare subsidies from various agencies.
For the PCC fee schedule, click here.
PCC provides a morning and afternoon snack, water, and milk for toddlers and preschoolers, who bring their own lunches. PCC staff will assist children with simple lunch preparation and can warm foods brought from home. To make mealtimes more enjoyable, children will occasionally prepare snacks or be asked to bring snacks to share.
Please note that the PCC is a nut-free facility.
Infant formula (Similac and Enfamil) is inclusive in tuition for infants.
PCC is a nut-free facility. If your child has other allergies, the PCC team will work with you to ensure their safety.
PCC is administered by the Division of Business Services, a division under the Office of the Executive Vice President.
All staff are University employees who have undergone robust background and criminal-history checks.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to seek alternate child-care arrangements in the event a space is not available at their desired enrollment date. Click here for more information.
Tuition is based on the age of your child and the number of attendance days per week. Families with an active Penn affiliation receive the Penn rate. Click here for our tuition fees.
We encourage family engagement. While we do not have a formal volunteer program, family members are welcome to come and read to or sing with our classes.
Drop-off and pickup parking slots are available right in front of the PCC.
Yes, stroller accommodations are available at the front of our facility.
Our caregivers and teachers use the ProCare app to remain in real-time touch with families, sharing updates, daily summaries, photos, and reminders that help us care more personally for your children.
To keep the general PCC community healthy, we ask that children stay home when they are sick with viral symptoms, run a fever over 100.4 degrees, or are vomiting or having persistent diarrhea. They may return when their symptoms abate and they are fever-free without medication for 24 hours.
Indoor/outdoor play is a hallmark at the PCC year-round. We ensure safe conditions by adhering to Philadelphia's extreme weather alerts, bringing children inside when the temperatures drop or climb to dangerous levels.
Infants nap as needed. Toddlers nap once per day.
Children at the PCC do not typically play on digital devices.
