Montgomery Early Learning Centers (MELC) was founded in 1963 as the Day Care Association of Montgomery County, Inc. to address unmet needs for child care locally, especially those of low-income and "working poor" families. From its original location at one site in Ambler, PA the agency has grown to be a large, multi site organization whose programs now extend to 19 sites in Montgomery County, Delaware County and Philadelphia.

As a regional child care provider, each day MELC's early childhood education and school age programs serve over 1200 children from six weeks to twelve years of age.

In 1996, the agency began doing business as Montgomery Early Learning Centers to more accurately reflect the program's focus on educational curriculum and school readiness support.

MELC's new name reflected a heightened focus on:

~ educational curriculum tailored to expand natural curiosity

~ pre-reading, pre-writing and pre-math learning activities targeted to build critical thinking skills

~ creative play to stimulate social and cognitive development for school readiness and academic success

~ program enhancements in the arts and sciences including an introduction to computer literacy

~ more child-directed and child-choice activities encouraging self esteem and self confidence

~ expanded athletic, dramatic and creative art programs for school age children before and after school

Whenever possible, MELC seeks innovative ways to serve more children and families with quality, center-based programs and as MELC has grown, "quality" has remained a primary goal. Currently, MELC has re-focused its age-appropriate learning experiences for pre-schoolers to address school readiness and early literacy needs.

~ In the mid 1980's MELC began collaborating with the Lower Merion School District when few if any school districts were addressing school age child care needs. Today, MELC runs several sites within school district facilities and coordinates Lower Merion's kindergarten enrichment program with the district's half-day kindergarten curriculum in an extended day format.

~ Child care programs in Norristown and Pottstown are run in collaboration with Montgomery County Head Start, and offer much-needed access to enriched early learning for low-income youngsters.

~ In January 2002, MELC entered into a partnership with People's Emergency Center in West Philadelphia to make quality child care available to children in a state-of-the-art center serving women and children in emergency and transitional housing named Families First.

~ New Head Start and Early Head Start collaborations are planned for Norristown and Families First.

SEPASACC's activities include on-site consultation about program development, improvement, licensing and accreditation, as well as training at sites throughout the region to address a wide range of topics of vital interest to those in the field. SEPASACC's success has led to its national reputation for fostering "best practices" and innovation in this emerging field.

In January 2002 MELC became an affiliate of the state's Heads-Up Reading Program. Installation of satellite transmission equipment at MELC's Narberth training center enables MELC to provide early literacy training to child care workers through interactive distance learning. MELC works with DVAEYC and the professional development program entitled "Gateways to deliver this program.

Fred Citron, MELC's executive director, has also been an active member, trustee and officer in organizations such as Delaware Valley Child Care Council (DVCCC), Pennsylvania Child Care Association (PACCA), and USA Child Care for 20 years. Through these affiliations, MELC continues to advocate for clearer quality standards, more professional development opportunities, and a system that is more responsive to the early learning needs of low-income and working class families.