The mission of the Lottie W. Thornton Early Childhood Laboratory Center is to provide a high-quality early childhood learning environment that will foster growth, development, and early learning in young children.  The center provides childcare services for faculty, staff, students, and the general community and serves as a multi-purpose resource in the area of teacher education. It offers diversified laboratory experiences for undergraduate students in cognitive, psychomotor and the social development of young children.  Proudly bearing the name of noted educator and former faculty member, Dr. Lottie W. Thornton,  the early childhood center also supports the curriculum and research efforts of university students in the College of Education and Human Development.

Licensed by the Mississippi Department of Health, the center operates a full-year, full day program with a primary focus on early literacy. The Center serves children from the age of three through the age of five years old. The hours of operation are Monday–Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. For more information or to request an application, call 601-979-2396  or email  the Director at earlychildhoodcenter@jsums.edu.