New to the CDL? 

Apply with this form or click the "Download Application" button above.

Applications are submitted only once with a non-refundable $40 application fee, accepted year-round, and allow eligible families to enroll in any program.

You can mail the completed application form, together with a check (pay to MSU) to 325 W Grand River Ave, East Lansing MI 48823. You can also email the completed application form to cdl@msu.edu and submit the application fee online. 

Application and Waitlist

• Children must be officially enrolled or re-enrolled each year.
• Children are assigned to their class based on their age on September 1 of each year. Children will remain in their assigned class for the entire year as this helps children move through our program and supports a smooth transition into public of private elementary schools.
• Currently enrolled preschoolers who turn 4 before September 1 will have first opportunity to enroll in the program as 4 year olds.
  • Remaining spaces will be filled in accordance to the CDL School of Choice Policy:
    • Haslett District residents or families who have older children participating in their school of choice program and turn 4 before September 1 will have priority until August 1 (Haslett site only).
    • All children who turn 4 before September 1.
    • Children who turn 4 before September 1 and parents do not want to disclose income are eligible to enroll after August
    • Children who turn 4 between September 1 and December 1 are eligible to enroll after August 1.

You will be asked to fill out the following forms and paperwork:

• Contract/Acknowledgement Form
• Child Information Record: The information requested is essential for the children’s safe and effective participation in the program. The Child Information Record must be submitted before your child’s start date. The CDL will only release children to people named on this record and it must be updated annually.
• Health Appraisal Form: State of Michigan Child Care licensing regulations require that a physical examination form be filled out by your child’s doctor. The Health Appraisal form must be submitted to the school office within 30 days of your child’s start date at the CDL.
  • Per Child Care Licensing, this form is required to be updated based on your child’s age
    • Annually for children under 30 months and every 2 years for children over 30 months
  • The CDL will provide you with a warning when your child’s health appraisal will expire.
  • If an updated copy is not provided prior to expiring, your child will not be able to attend until a new form is on record.
• Immunizations Record: Prior to entering school, families must provide proof of immunizations. A list of required immunizations by age group is available at MDHHS-Pub-1254 - Vaccines for Childcare Preschool from the Michigan Public Health Code.
  • The CDL office may require families to update immunization records throughout the year as children become eligible for their next round of doses.
• Importance of Home Form: The home visit is a time to talk with you about your goals for your child, concerns you may have and stories you’d like to share. It is a time for teachers to learn about your family, talents, hobbies, and your goals.
• The Child Development Laboratories screens children annually to meet high-quality program standards. 
  • Ages & Stages Questionnaire (ASQ-3): a developmental screener that provides a quick check of your child’s development in communication, gross motor, fine motor, problem-solving, and personal-social.    
  • Ages and Stages Questionnaire Social Emotional (ASQ-SE-2): provides a quick check of your child’s social-emotional strengths and areas where they may need practice or support.

Open the CDL Cashnet tuition payment site.

Open the tuition rates document.

Tuition fees are used solely to support programs conducted at the Child Development Laboratories. 

• An initial application with a non-refundable $40 application fee is required to be added to the waitlist.

• A $300 deposit is required upon the signing of the enrollment contract.

• Tuition is due for each day a child is enrolled. There is no tuition credit for sick days, holidays, scheduled and unexpected closings (such as weather or building issues), or vacation days.  

• Tuition is due by the 1st of each month. Tuition may be paid using cash or check in office or ACH transfer and credit card payments can be made through the CDL Cashnet tuition payment site. Fees incurred by the use of credit or debit cards will be paid by the payee.
  • A late fee of $20 is added to accounts for balances unpaid on the 1st of the month.
    • All balances must be paid in full before a child can be enrolled in the next program year.

• All children must be picked up within 5 minutes after their session ends. Late pickup fees will be charged to your account for children not picked up after this time.
  • 5-15 minutes: $5
    • Every 15 minutes thereafter: $20 per 15 minute increments

• Families who are in financial distress should reach out to the Office Manager to discuss alternative payment arrangements.

• MSU CDL accepts tuition assistance programs such as employer-paid assistance, Spartan Kids and payments from the state’s Child Development and Care (CDC) program. Such payments are applied directly to family accounts, reducing or eliminating the amount owed by the family. Families are responsible for any remaining balance after assistance payments are applied.
  • Families who are receiving assistance to pay for childcare (i.e. DHS, Spartan Kids, LCC ARC Grant), are required to pay tuition while awaiting verification in the assistance program if the approval documentation has not been received by the first day of care.  Any excess payment will be applied toward future month’s tuition.
• CDC tuition assistance at MI Bridges.
  • GSRP and Head Start at www.inghampreschool.org.