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Educational First Steps helps early childcare centers in historically underinvested communities achieve prestigious national accreditation — at no cost to the educators, families, and communities served.
What is the Four Steps to Excellence Program?
Through the Four Steps to Excellence, Educational First Steps partners with local small business owners to close the educational opportunity gap and transform communities across North Texas. The childcare centers we partner with have a passion for children and strong community support, however, they often lack the time, training, or financial resources to pursue national accreditation.
That’s where EFS steps in to fill the resource gap — thanks to the support of our many donors and corporate partners. Over a period of roughly 36 months, we provide the financial support, business development services, and early learning mentorship required to help our partner centers achieve accreditation from two of the most rigorous accrediting bodies:
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The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
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The National Accreditation Commission of Early Care and Education (NAC)
In support of our vision of equitable educational opportunities, the Four Steps to Excellence program is offered completely free of charge to the centers we work with.
Step 1
Home Base Care Provider Partners
Goal:
Sustain high-quality care, enroll in Texas Rising Stars (TRS) (if not already enrolled), and are members of a partner HBC association
Participants Receive:
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Access to learning system, live trainings, and all of our Academy training sessions such as First Aid, CPR, pre-service training
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Access to our pilot programming
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Access to Professional Learning Communities (PLCS) for TRS enrollment and support
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Access to our annual conference
Step 2
Pathways to Quality Partners
Goal:
Participants achieve high-quality standards in core early childhood education milestones. These milestones lead to the ultimate goal of national accreditation.
Participants Receive:
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Access to learning system, live trainings, and all of our Academy training sessions such as First Aid, CPR, pre-service training
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Access to our pilot programming
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Access and support to coaching from our educational specialists for classrooms to national accreditation
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Access and support to coaching from a quality manager with administration support to national accreditation
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Access to Professional Learning Communities (PLCS) for TRS enrollment and support
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Access to our annual conference
Step 3
Quality Partners
Goal:
Sustain high-quality care, maintain accreditation, and achieve reaccreditation. This step helps ensure center leadership to sustain high-quality care to get students school-ready.
Participants Receive:
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Access to learning system, live trainings, and all of our Academy training sessions such as First Aid, CPR, pre-service training
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Access to our pilot programming
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Access and support to coaching from our educational specialists for classrooms to maintain accreditation
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Access and support to coaching from a quality manager with administration support for maintaining accreditation
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Access to our annual conference
Step 4
Legacy Partners
Goal:
To support directors and owners of high quality child care centers in sustaining their quality and getting students school ready with tailored support
Participants Receive:
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Access to learning system, live trainings, and all of our Academy training sessions such as First Aid, CPR, pre-service training
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Access to our pilot programming
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Access and support to coaching from a quality manager with administration support for maintaining accreditation
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Access to our annual conference
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost to become a partner?
Educational First Steps provides the Four Steps to Excellence program to centers at no cost.
What is the cost to register for an Academy training session?
All Academy training sessions are complimentary for educators and childcare providers within the EFS network (Current EFS Partners) and offered to the general public at $15.00 per person per session.
Does Educational First Steps offer Child Development Associate (CDA) courses?
Yes! Please visit our CDA Page for more information.
Does Educational First Steps offer field trips?
Yes, we offer field trips to the four-and five-year-olds in our assisted centers. We have partnerships with The Perot Museum, Frontiers of Flight Museum, the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden, and the Dallas Zoo.
Do you partner with home-based child care providers?
Yes! Through the Home Based Care (HBC) Pilot Program in partnership with Wonderschool, EFS supports existing and new HBC providers so that they are of the highest quality and use business practices that make them financially successful.
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