Your Child's Education Starts Before Their First Birthday
April 23, 2026
Westminster School District's infant, toddler, and preschool program opens the door to early learning — and lasting community — from the very first months of life.
There is a window of time in a child's development — the first three years — that researchers describe as more formative than any other period in human life. Language, emotional regulation, cognitive development, and social connection are all being shaped during those early months at a pace that will never be matched again.
Westminster School District has built and sustained a high-quality, developmentally appropriate early learning program for more than 40 years, designed to create a foundation that will serve children for their entire lives.
Beginning at just 4 months old, WSD's Early Learning Programs provide infants and toddlers with a structured, nurturing environment staffed by credentialed early education specialists at Land Early Learning Center. It is one of the earliest entry points offered by any public school district in Orange County — and it is available to families right here in Westminster, Huntington Beach, Garden Grove, Midway City, and the surrounding communities.
The program is grounded in what developmental science tells us matters most: consistent caregiving relationships, rich language exposure, sensory-based learning, and the kind of unhurried attention that allows very young children to feel safe enough to explore. WSD's curriculum balances play-based learning with teacher-facilitated experiences designed to build social-emotional awareness, motor development, and early academic foundations. As children grow through toddlerhood and into preschool, that continuity of care travels with them — familiar faces, familiar spaces, and a community that already knows them by name.
WSD's preschool programs have been rated "High Quality" — 5 out of 5 stars — by the Orange County Department of Education. The instructional team maintains that standard through ongoing professional development rooted in current, research-based early learning practices.
For working families, the program also addresses one of the most stressful logistical challenges of early parenthood: finding high-quality care that is both affordable and aligned with how you want your child to begin these foundational years. Private infant care in Orange County can cost well over $2,000 per month, with waitlists that stretch a year or more. WSD offers both subsidized (free or reduced fee) and private pay options, so families at a range of income levels have a path to enrollment — without compromising quality.
"When a family enrolls their infant with us, they are not just finding childcare. They are starting a relationship with our schools that can last through 8th grade,” stated Gunn Marie Hansen, Ph.D., Superintendent of Westminster School District.
Spaces for 2026–27 are limited and fill early. If you have an infant or toddler at home — or one on the way — now is the time to start the conversation.
Enrollment for 2026–27 is now open. Visit https://www.wsdk8.us/ to apply, learn about subsidy eligibility, or schedule a campus visit. You can also call the Land Early Learning office at 714-898-8389.