A Lab School at the Heart of MPC
We are part of MPC’s Student Services, a division that supports student success and well-being across campus. Income-eligible Parent Scholars receive priority registration to our program where every day, children and future educators learn together through exploration, reflection, and joyful connection. We also serve children of MPC’ s loyal staff as well as those who reside in the greater peninsula region.
Our Mission
To nurture the growth of each child through responsive, play-based education, while also mentoring future educators in developmentally appropriate practices.
Our Vision
At the Monterey Peninsula College California State Preschool Program, we envision a vibrant, inclusive learning community where children are honored as curious, capable, and creative individuals. Rooted in the coastal beauty of our campus and inspired by the holistic approaches of Waldorf, Montessori, and Reggio Emilia, we nurture each child’s unique rhythm, voice, and potential.
We believe education begins with relationship — to self, others, and the natural world. Our program cultivates wonder through child-led exploration, intentional environments, and meaningful connections with families and the college community. We empower children to think deeply, express freely, and engage joyfully in their learning journey, laying the foundation for a lifetime of growth, empathy, and resilience.
Our Core Values
- Child-Centered Learning - We honor each child as a unique, capable individual with
their own pace, voice, and way of understanding the world.
- Creativity & Curiosity - We foster imagination, open-ended exploration, and a love
of learning through hands-on experiences and inquiry-based discovery.
- Respectful Relationships - We cultivate empathy, collaboration, and deep connection between children, families, educators, and our college community.
- Prepared Environments - We create thoughtful, beautiful, and intentional spaces that invite independence, creativity, and meaningful engagement.
- Nature & Nurture - We value the rhythms of the natural world and encourage outdoor learning that connects children to their environment.
- Reflective Practice - We are committed to ongoing learning, observation, and dialogue — listening closely to children and adapting with intention.