SAN JOSE, CA –  A year and a half since its groundbreaking, the Santa Clara County Office of Education’s (SCCOE) Early Learning Center is now open to the county’s youngest learners. On July 16, 2025, educational leaders celebrated the opening of the new facility with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, welcoming those in attendance to a glimpse of the spaces where young children will learn, grow, and play at the Ridder Park campus. 

“The opening of the Early Learning Center is a celebration of many things: equitable access to early learning programs and having a visual reminder that anchors not just staff but the community in why we do this work on behalf of children,” said County Superintendent, Dr. David M. Toston, Sr. “We, as the Santa Clara County Office of Education, commit that this will be a place where differences are embraced, instruction is intentional, belonging is felt, and possibilities for our children are endless.” 

Beginning in August, the Ridder Park location will house classes that support children ages 3-5 who receive special education support.

“As a special education teacher, I know firsthand the incredible impact that a thoughtfully designed space can have on both students and staff,” said Santa Clara County Board of Education President, Maimona Afzal Berta. “Classrooms are a safe space, a place of discovery, joy, and possibility.” 

The celebration also paid homage to the Chandler Tripp spirit with staff and some students moving from the former Chandler Tripp location to SCCOE’s main campus. Photos from Chandler Tripp’s early years in the late 1940s adorn bookshelves in playrooms.

“This new facility is far more than a building – it’s a home where children will be seen, supported, and every single day,” said Michelle Kjellesvig, Assistant Director of Early Learning. “With accessible classrooms, adaptive equipment, and spaces where therapy and learning come together naturally, this place will nurture growth in every way possible.” 

The SCCOE was awarded an Inclusive Early Education Expansion Program (IEEEP) grant, which allows the creation of inclusive and equitable early learning environments for children ages birth to five with disabilities. The SCCOE’s Ridder Park office is the fifth site to utilize grant funds, with three sites located in South County and another in San Jose.