For CalPERS parents
Why CalPERS families choose us, not the on-site option.
CalPERS has expanded its headquarters complex with on-site amenities, including a daycare facility serving preschool-age children. Many of our CalPERS families consider both. Three reasons most choose us, especially in the early years.
Infants from six weeks. We run a true infant program with a 1:3 staffing target. California's state minimum is 1:4. Infant rooms here are quiet, RIE-informed, and built around responsive caregiving. Returning from parental leave with a six-week-old is one of the hardest weeks of a state-worker parent's life. We've built the program for that week.
Mindfulness, woven through the day. Mindfulness practice begins at six weeks. Not as a curriculum bolted on top of preschool, but as the way we move through every transition, every conflict, every snack. For families whose work is high-stakes and slow-paced, the early scaffolding to notice, breathe, name, and pause matters.
Lunch visits genuinely work. Four minutes on foot. Many of our CalPERS parents nurse on lunch hour, then walk back for a 1:30 board prep. The school was built so this is normal, not extraordinary.
We built the school so a parent can lunch with their infant
and still make a 1:30 hearing.
A typical morning
What drop-off looks like for a CalPERS parent.
You leave home with your child by 6:50. You park in the CalPERS garage and walk one block north on P, then west on N. Drop-off opens at 7:00 sharp. The handoff is unhurried by design, RIE-paced, no rushed goodbyes, and you can be at your desk for the 7:30 stand-up.
Mid-day, if you're nursing or just want to sit with your infant for ten minutes, you walk back. Pick-up runs through 6:00 PM, which gives you a real cushion for late agenda items, a board meeting that runs long, or a pension-related call from Sacramento Bee that lands at 5:15. We've held an infant past 5:45 more times than we can count, without anyone losing their cool.
Field Notes
Questions from CalPERS parents, answered.
Is Growing Mindfully really the exclusive off-campus preschool for CalPERS employees?
Yes. The VIP Rate is the deepest tuition discount we offer, and it is written into our agreement with the State of California for the four state buildings within walking distance of our front door. CalPERS at 715 P Street is one of those four. No other preschool in Sacramento markets a discount of this depth or specificity to CalPERS employees.
How does the VIP Rate compare to CalPERS' on-site daycare?
Different services. The on-site facility primarily serves preschool-age children. Growing Mindfully accepts infants from six weeks old, runs a true infant program with 1:3 staffing, and integrates mindfulness practice from the very first day. Many CalPERS families use us for infants and toddlers and reassess at preschool age.
How far is Growing Mindfully from 715 P Street?
About a four-minute walk. We are on the top floor of 750 N Street, two blocks north and one block west of CalPERS HQ. Most CalPERS parents do drop-off on their way to their desk and pick-up at end of day on foot.
What proof do I need to qualify for the VIP Rate?
At enrollment, we verify with either your CalPERS-issued state ID or a recent pay stub showing CalPERS as your employer. That's the entire process. No application fee, no separate VIP application.
What if I work for CalPERS but at a regional office, not 715 P Street?
You still qualify for our State Employee Rate, which is also discounted from our standard tuition. The VIP Rate is specifically for employees whose primary work location is one of the four neighbor buildings (including 715 P Street). If your role rotates between locations, contact enrollment and we'll work it out fairly.
Are infant spots actually available, or is there a long waitlist?
We are now enrolling infants for fall 2026 (ages 6 weeks through 7 months). Apply to the waitlist as early as possible, pregnant families regularly apply during the second trimester. CalPERS-employed families on the VIP Rate receive enrollment-priority consideration alongside our sibling-priority list.
Do you accept CalPERS' dependent care FSA contributions?
Yes. We are a licensed California childcare facility (CDSS, Title 22), which qualifies us as an eligible dependent care provider for both DCFSA contributions and the federal Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit. We provide receipts and EIN documentation at year-end.
What does a typical day look like for a CalPERS parent dropping off?
Drop-off opens at 7:00 AM. Walk in with your child, hand off to a teacher at the door (we use a slow, RIE-paced welcome, no rushed goodbyes), and you can be at your desk by 7:20. Pick-up runs through 6:00 PM, which gives you a real cushion for late hearings or board meetings.
Can I do lunch visits with my infant?
Yes. We built the school so a parent at any of the four neighbor buildings can lunch with their infant and still make a 1:30 hearing. For nursing mothers especially, the four-minute walk makes daytime feeding visits genuinely workable.
What's included in the VIP Rate?
Full-time tuition (Mon–Fri, 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM), two organic snacks daily, weekly yoga and music, monthly gymnastics, all classroom materials, the Brightwheel parent-communication app, and our integrated mindfulness curriculum. Lunch comes from home. We are a nut-free facility.
Is there a part-time VIP Rate?
Yes. We offer 3-day (Mon/Wed/Fri) and 2-day (Tues/Thurs) schedules for CalPERS families on hybrid arrangements, both at proportional VIP pricing.
How do I start?
Apply to our waitlist at any time. In the application, mention you work at 715 P Street and we'll route your file as a VIP applicant. We'll reach out within a few days to talk schedule, age band, and a tour.
Is there a CalPERS childcare benefit or daycare discount in Sacramento?
Yes. Growing Mindfully is the mindfulness-based preschool and daycare with a structural VIP Rate exclusive to CalPERS employees at 715 P Street. The discount applies to infant care (from 6 weeks), toddler care, and preschool, on every schedule we offer (full-time, MWF, TuTh). Verification at enrollment is by state ID or pay stub, no application fee. The arrangement is written into our agreement with the State of California for the four neighbor buildings.
How much does childcare or daycare cost for CalPERS employees?
At Growing Mindfully, the VIP Rate for CalPERS employees is $425 per week for infant or toddler care (Mon to Fri full-time), $364 for young preschool (24, 36 months), and $332 for preschool (36, 72 months). Part-time MWF and TuTh schedules are proportionally less. See the rates ledger above for the complete grid. CalPERS staff who work elsewhere (not at 715 P Street) qualify for our State Employee Rate, also discounted from standard.
Where can I find infant care or toddler care for CalPERS employees in Downtown Sacramento?
Growing Mindfully runs a true infant and toddler program from 6 weeks of age, on the top floor of 750 N Street, a four-minute walk from 715 P Street. We are RIE-informed for infants and toddlers, with a 1:3 staffing target in the infant room and 1:4 in toddler rooms. Hours are Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM. We are an eligible dependent care provider (CDSS Title 22 license).
Can I use my dependent care FSA (DCFSA) for preschool tuition as a CalPERS employee?
Yes. Growing Mindfully is a licensed California childcare facility (CDSS, Title 22), which qualifies us as an eligible dependent care provider. CalPERS employees can apply DCFSA pretax contributions toward tuition and also claim the federal Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit. We provide W-10 receipts and EIN documentation at year-end for tax filing.
What's the closest preschool or daycare to 715 P Street?
Growing Mindfully, on the top floor of 750 N Street, is the closest mindfulness-based preschool to 715 P Street, a four-minute walk. We serve children ages 6 weeks through 6 years (infant care, toddler care, young preschool, preschool) and are the only Sacramento-area preschool with a structural VIP discount written into our agreement with the State for CalPERS families.