Enrollment in the full-day program is open to University of Minnesota students, staff, and faculty only. You must continue to be affiliated with the University to remain enrolled.
We currently do not have any openings in our classrooms. We continuously accept applications for our waitlisted applicant pool.
Joining the applicant pool
The average wait to enroll is 18-24 months from the date of application. You may apply upon completion of the first trimester of pregnancy.
The date of application, preferred start date, and the age of the child will be used to place eligible children from the applicant pool into open spaces as they occur throughout the year. Placement is further determined by these criteria in the following priority order:
- Child of a full-time CDLS staff member.
- Internal movement. This includes moving a child from a younger classroom to an older classroom on the basis of the child’s age and available opening. It also includes a child moving from the part-day to the full-day program or the Nest, or from the full-day to the part-day program or the Nest. Such internal moves may take place after one academic year or two semesters of attendance in any program.
- Previously enrolled child returning from an approved and paid leave of absence.
- Sibling of a currently enrolled child.
- Sibling of a previously enrolled child, or the child of a CDLS alum.
- New child currently in the applicant pool.
For more information about our full-day program and to arrange a tour, please complete this interest form and our outreach coordinator will be in touch. Our outreach coordinator will provide a link to an application form. To join the applicant pool, you will need to fill out and submit the application form.
You will also need to pay the $75 non-refundable application fee in cash or by check payable to the University of Minnesota or to Child Development Laboratory School.
Note: If paying by check, please put the child’s name in the memo line of your check. The fee can be mailed or dropped off at the address below:
Child Development Laboratory School
921 17th Ave SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455
Once the application fee has been processed, you will be added to the waitlisted applicant pool. You will receive an email confirmation.
Please indicate your preferred start date (day/month/year) on your application. If your preferred start date is flexible, please indicate that in addition to a preferred start date.
Please notify us of any changes to your contact information or University affiliation after you apply. It is your responsibility to notify us of any changes to your address, phone numbers, email, preferred start date, or affiliation with the University of Minnesota.
Admission and enrollment
Our outreach coordinator will contact you when it’s your child’s turn to enroll. You’ll have 48 hours to accept or decline the enrollment offer. At the time of acceptance, you’ll be charged a $200 non-refundable enrollment fee that will be applied to your first billing statement. If you are enrolling a sibling, the enrollment fee is per child, which will be added along with other charges to your existing account.
If you accept the offer of enrollment, our outreach coordinator will reach out with next steps. A welcome meeting will also be scheduled with your classroom teacher for you and your child. This will be an opportunity for you to get to know each other before the first day of school.
Contact us
Interested in learning more and scheduling a tour? We’d love to hear from you.