Welcome to Clemson University's Early Childhood Education Center

Morning and afternoon snacks will be provided each day and is included in your tuition. Families will be responsible for packing and bringing their child(ren)’s lunch, and adhering to the center’s Food from Home policy.

Bright Horizons will allow you to hold a space for your child, so long as your monthly tuitions are paid in full. In the event your monthly tuition is not paid, your child(ren)’s space will be offered to another family in the wait pool.

Bright Horizons core business is employer-sponsored care. They were founded more than 30 years ago and now partner with more than 1000 employers across the U.S., as well as in Europe, Canada, and India. Their client list includes more than three-fourths of the companies on Working Mother magazine’s “100 Best” list. In addition, their client list includes more than half of those named to FORTUNE magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work For”. It should be noted that Bright Horizons has also been named to the FORTUNE list 18 times. Bright Horizons is an organization recognized for ethics, collaboration, community service, and excellence in the child care industry. They have extensive experience with opening new centers from the ground-up and creating wonderful places for childhood

Clemson University requested in-depth proposals and evaluated a number of potential child care providers. Bright Horizons was selected based on the fact that they are a nationally recognized leader in assisting employers with onsite child development centers. 

If you are interested in enrolling your child(ren), you will need to complete an enrollment interest form and submit a $150 registration fee per child.  After this, families will be contacted by a Bright Horizons representative to discuss pre-enrollment or waitlist status. 

Tuition is paid online and is due on the 25th day of the prior month. Example: September's monthly tuition will be due on August 25th.

The length of time will vary depending on the size of the waitlist and the ages of the children.  Bright Horizons will send periodic communications to keep you informed of your status on the waitlist and will do everything they can to ensure you are offered a space as soon as it becomes available.  Families may decline an offer and maintain their current position on the waitlist once. After the second decline, their name will be moved to the bottom of the waitlist.

Enrollment will be offered to families in the order that their enrollment interest form and registration fee are received on a first-come, first-served basis.  With priority granted to legal dependents of Clemson University full-time faculty, staff, full-time graduate and undergraduate students, and then the general community.

No, part-time care is not provided at this time.

No sibling discount is offered at this time.

The center has capacity for approximately 143 children and will serve children ages 6 weeks through 5 years. 

As guardians of your children, there is nothing more important to Bright Horizons than their safety and protection while they are at the center. Bright Horizons has a series of security protocols and procedures to help guard against any threat to the safety of children and staff and performs safety drills on a regular basis. They do everything they can to make centers safe and secure, and to ensure that their teachers and staff are well-trained to protect children in the case of emergency.

Access to the center:

• The center entrance will require badge access at all times. Employees and guardians will receive restricted access badge for entry into the child care center. Families are not allowed to share access badges, even with people who are pre-authorized to pick up their children.
• Center policies prohibit families and staff from holding the door open for others they do not know.
• Parents/guardians are responsible for physically checking their child into and out of the center each day. This ensures that each child is safe and supervised at all times and encourages daily communication between families and staff.
• A written notice is required before releasing a child to someone other than those authorized at enrollment.

Safety Drills and Training:

• The center will conduct monthly evacuation drills, regular lockdown drills, and “shelter in place” exercises.
• Emergency supplies are purchased and stored in an area accessible to staff with the ability to relocate if needed.
• All Bright Horizons staff are trained regularly in CPR, even if not required by the state. First Aid is taught as required by state licensing agency/regulations so that you can feel confident that your child is safe and receiving the best possible care.
• All Bright Horizons teachers are trained and well-prepared in the event of an emergency. In addition to safety drills, Bright Horizons regularly reviews their safety policies and procedures.

Emergency Communication:

• In the event of a center emergency, severe weather closure/delayed opening, or an emergency in the community near the center, you will receive updates through the My Bright Day® app.
• As new information is available, the center administration team will continue to provide updates through the notification system.
• In certain instances where the center administration team is unable to provide ongoing updates, families will be asked to call the Emergency Hotline number (1-877-276- 113) to speak with a centrally located Bright Horizons team member.

Injury Prevention:

• Teachers for each age group are responsible for daily safety inspections of their assigned areas and equipment. Defective equipment is removed or repaired to prevent injury. Small toy pieces or other objects that could pose a choking hazard to infants and toddlers are not allowed in areas designated for children under age three.
• For the same reason, children’s personal items such as barrettes, hair ties, earrings, necklaces, and beaded jewelry are strongly discouraged in these areas.
• Due to the risk of choking, the following clothing and accessories are prohibited:

1. Outerwear with neck strings, including scarves
2. Pants with drawstrings on the waist or bottom that extend more than three inches when tied
3. Bibs, pacifiers and teethers with ties or strings of any kind
4. Teething beads, including Amber beads

Weapons Policy:

Firearms, explosive devices, and other weapons are not permitted on Bright Horizons premises, regardless of any valid permit to carry such weapons.

The health and safety of the children in our care is our top priority. As such, all Bright Horizons Child Care Centers have enhanced health and safety protocols which are developed based on guidance from the Centers of Disease Control, direction from state and local public authorities and in partnership with Dr. Kristin Moffitt, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Boston Children’s Hospital.  These protocols include limited class sizes, restrictions to the number of people who come in and out of our centers, daily health checks upon arrival for staff and children, optional masking for teachers, families and all staff, as well as strict guidelines on distancing, cleaning, and disinfecting. Our team is committed to these protocols every day. And we continue to consult with experts to ensure all our practices evolve, so that children, families, and teachers are protected.

Bright Horizons works to recruit and hire the highest quality teachers.  Bright Horizons’ staff are nurturers as well as educators who encourage learning through exploration and partnership with parents. They’re trained to deliver the highest standard of care.  All candidates undergo a thorough screening, including a Bright Horizons enhanced background check and state-required background checks. All teachers must meet state educational licensing and additional center requirements.

The monthly 2025 tuition rates are listed below. These rates are effective from January 2025 through December 2025.  Each year, Bright Horizons will conduct an extensive market study to determine the appropriate annual tuition rates. 

Bright Horizons’ successful core curriculum World at Their Fingertips, will be used at the center. To learn more about the Bright Horizons curriculum, please visit brighthorizons.com/early-education-preschool/proven-approach

The ratios at the center are designed to support one-on-one interactions between the teachers and children, an in-depth understanding by the teachers of the individual needs of each child, and the formulation of consistent caregiving routines based on the teachers’ knowledge of the individual children. These teacher-to-child ratios also support enhanced development, particularly language development.

Families will be required to provide notice of intent to withdraw 30 days in advance of the last day of attendance. 

In addition to the tuition, you will be required to pay the following:

• Registration Fee: A non-refundable registration fee of $150 per child is due upon submission of the enrollment interest form. 
   
• Enrollment Deposit: An enrollment deposit equal to one month’s tuition will be due when the enrollment offer is accepted. The enrollment deposit will be applied to the first month of tuition. If a family chooses not to enroll their child after accepting the enrollment offer, the enrollment deposit will be forfeited.
   
• Annual Re-Registration Fee: A $100 fee per child will be required each March to cover annual administrative and licensing fees. If your child’s registration fee was paid within ninety (90) days of the center’s re-registration due date, whether as part of the wait pool or enrollment process, the re-registration fee will be waived.

Bright Horizons offers many resources to support families’ efforts to nurture children’s development, be actively involved in their education, and balance work/life demands. https://www.brighthorizons.com/family-resources

Tuition will be billed and collected monthly.

Legal dependents of Clemson University's full-time faculty and staff including full-time graduate and undergraduate students are eligible for enrollment. The center will provide space for the general community. 

The center will not offer vacation credits. 

• Start by selecting the Find a Center link on this page.
• Under the center you’re interested in, click the Request Details button.
• Then, select Schedule Your Visit and fill out the form.

This depends on your child’s age, temperament, and level of maturity. General tips for preparing for the first day of child care include:  

Please submit an inquiry to your center(s) of interest with a request for tuition information. We recommend scheduling a visit at the same time (this can be done on the same form).

Safety is our top priority, and it’s part of our everyday routine. All of our centers follow expert-informed health, safety, and security policies and allergy protocols. Additionally, health, safety, and wellness are built right into our curriculum, and our classrooms and spaces are safely designed for learning and exploration.