About
River City Early Learning Center includes daily activities such as Circle Time, Small Group Table Activities, Centers, Outdoor Time, and Snacks and Lunch. The program also offers a Zumbini program, which is included at no charge for children in toddler and early preschool classrooms.
• Ages: 6 weeks–12 years old
• Schedule: Monday–Friday, 7:00 am–6:00 pm, with options for 5 days (Monday–Friday), 2 days (Tuesday/Thursday), or 3 days (Monday/Wednesday/Friday)
• Price: Registration fee is $125/child or $175/family, due upon enrollment and annually in the fall; no deposit required; debit/credit cards incur a 2.95% processing fee
River City Early Learning Center serves families with six classrooms: one Infant room for children from six weeks to about 12 months, one Toddler room for children about 12 to 24 months, two Early Preschool rooms for children 2–3 years old, one Preschool/TK room for children 3–5 years old, and one School Age room for children who have entered kindergarten through 12 years old. Child-to-staff ratios are 1:4 for children under two years old, 1:12 for children 2–5 years old, and 1:14 for children in kindergarten through 12 years old, with a stated preference to operate at a 1:8 ratio for 2–3-year-olds in early preschool classrooms that provide potty training and diaper changing. Children are not expected to be potty trained for preschool programs, and the center will work with families to develop a training plan.
The curriculum at River City Early Learning Center is themed, child directed, play based, tailored and individualized for each child’s level, and delivered through units of study that are theme-based topics using commonly recognized developmental domains. The curriculum is developed by Nancy Dougherty, M.A. Parents provide lunch for their children, while River City Early Learning Center provides a morning and afternoon snack. Families provide diapers, and the program provides hypoallergenic, unscented wipes typically found at a local Sam's Club, with the option for families to provide different wipes if a child has a sensitivity.
The program uses an app called Brightwheel for family communication, messaging, picture and video sharing, and managing billing accounts. A week of vacation credit is offered after six months of enrollment and renews in the fall with no carryover. River City Early Learning Center welcomes subsidy programs such as Child Action, CalWorks, and Child Care Aware and is willing to partner with other subsidy agencies. The program does not offer cameras accessible to families due to children’s privacy and has an open-door policy to all families. Families are welcome to participate on site at events, and mothers who would like to nurse their infants during their workday are welcome, with a comfortable private space available if preferred. The program states that it strives to provide a facility that honors staff by providing a full benefit package and a positive relationship-based culture.
All staff are required to clear a background check prior to their first day of employment with the children and are required to complete educational requirements. Staff participate in bi-annual trainings as well as monthly staff meetings. Jessica Dawson-Brown serves as the Executive Director of River City Early Learning Centers and holds a B.S. in Applied Management, an A.A. in Liberal Studies, and a Site Supervisor Permit from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing.
River City Early Learning Centers opened its doors in 2016 with the Laguna West Campus. In 2019, the program expanded to a second site in Elk Grove, the East Campus, which operated until 2021, and in September 2024, River City opened the May Lee Campus. The mission statement notes that River City Early Learning Centers was built on the belief that every child deserves a safe, nurturing place to grow and learn, that River City Learning Company, Inc. is passionate about creating a positive learning environment that fosters curiosity, exploration, and growth, and that the program envisions River City Early Learning Centers as a key part of the community, helping children thrive while giving back locally and globally.
River City Early Learning Centers describes itself as deeply committed to giving back to the community. Its philanthropic efforts include hosting holiday toy drives for local children, sponsoring outreach programs in underprivileged communities, and donating playground equipment to an orphanage in the Dominican Republic that previously had none. Jessica Dawson-Brown volunteers annually with the Foster Love organization as a chaperone for Disney Day events to reunite siblings in foster care and participates in advocacy work at the State Capitol in Sacramento in support of early childhood education policies and resources for the industry.
Last updated July 7, 2026.
• Ages: 6 weeks–12 years old
• Schedule: Monday–Friday, 7:00 am–6:00 pm, with options for 5 days (Monday–Friday), 2 days (Tuesday/Thursday), or 3 days (Monday/Wednesday/Friday)
• Price: Registration fee is $125/child or $175/family, due upon enrollment and annually in the fall; no deposit required; debit/credit cards incur a 2.95% processing fee
River City Early Learning Center serves families with six classrooms: one Infant room for children from six weeks to about 12 months, one Toddler room for children about 12 to 24 months, two Early Preschool rooms for children 2–3 years old, one Preschool/TK room for children 3–5 years old, and one School Age room for children who have entered kindergarten through 12 years old. Child-to-staff ratios are 1:4 for children under two years old, 1:12 for children 2–5 years old, and 1:14 for children in kindergarten through 12 years old, with a stated preference to operate at a 1:8 ratio for 2–3-year-olds in early preschool classrooms that provide potty training and diaper changing. Children are not expected to be potty trained for preschool programs, and the center will work with families to develop a training plan.
The curriculum at River City Early Learning Center is themed, child directed, play based, tailored and individualized for each child’s level, and delivered through units of study that are theme-based topics using commonly recognized developmental domains. The curriculum is developed by Nancy Dougherty, M.A. Parents provide lunch for their children, while River City Early Learning Center provides a morning and afternoon snack. Families provide diapers, and the program provides hypoallergenic, unscented wipes typically found at a local Sam's Club, with the option for families to provide different wipes if a child has a sensitivity.
The program uses an app called Brightwheel for family communication, messaging, picture and video sharing, and managing billing accounts. A week of vacation credit is offered after six months of enrollment and renews in the fall with no carryover. River City Early Learning Center welcomes subsidy programs such as Child Action, CalWorks, and Child Care Aware and is willing to partner with other subsidy agencies. The program does not offer cameras accessible to families due to children’s privacy and has an open-door policy to all families. Families are welcome to participate on site at events, and mothers who would like to nurse their infants during their workday are welcome, with a comfortable private space available if preferred. The program states that it strives to provide a facility that honors staff by providing a full benefit package and a positive relationship-based culture.
All staff are required to clear a background check prior to their first day of employment with the children and are required to complete educational requirements. Staff participate in bi-annual trainings as well as monthly staff meetings. Jessica Dawson-Brown serves as the Executive Director of River City Early Learning Centers and holds a B.S. in Applied Management, an A.A. in Liberal Studies, and a Site Supervisor Permit from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing.
River City Early Learning Centers opened its doors in 2016 with the Laguna West Campus. In 2019, the program expanded to a second site in Elk Grove, the East Campus, which operated until 2021, and in September 2024, River City opened the May Lee Campus. The mission statement notes that River City Early Learning Centers was built on the belief that every child deserves a safe, nurturing place to grow and learn, that River City Learning Company, Inc. is passionate about creating a positive learning environment that fosters curiosity, exploration, and growth, and that the program envisions River City Early Learning Centers as a key part of the community, helping children thrive while giving back locally and globally.
River City Early Learning Centers describes itself as deeply committed to giving back to the community. Its philanthropic efforts include hosting holiday toy drives for local children, sponsoring outreach programs in underprivileged communities, and donating playground equipment to an orphanage in the Dominican Republic that previously had none. Jessica Dawson-Brown volunteers annually with the Foster Love organization as a chaperone for Disney Day events to reunite siblings in foster care and participates in advocacy work at the State Capitol in Sacramento in support of early childhood education policies and resources for the industry.
Last updated July 7, 2026.
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