Welcome to the new EFS website!
Four Steps to Excellence
Through our flagship program, 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:
- The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
- 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.
Reaching Excellence Together, Step by Step
Business Foundations
Establish financial, operational, and human resource fundamentals
Pathways to Quality
Achieve high-quality standards in core early childhood education milestones
Quality Partners
Sustain high-quality care post-accreditation with support from our expert coaches
Legacy
Grow your center through branding, marketing, social enterprise, grants & more
Why Accreditation Matters
Through the process of accreditation, child development centers demonstrate a higher standard of quality than what is mandated through minimum state licensing.
Accreditation not only improves the day-to-day learning opportunities for local kids — it can also have a significant ripple effect on the community at large.
Over the long term, higher-quality early education leads to happier and more productive individuals, a stronger local economy, and so much more.
Benefits of National Accreditation
- Higher-quality learning opportunities for children
- A stamp of excellence that attracts & grows student enrollment
- Proof of quality from a rigorous & well-known certifying body
Program Impact at a Glance
80%
of EFS childcare partners are small businesses owned and operated by women of color
98%
success rate helping centers achieve and maintain national accreditation
5,200+
North Texas children offered high-quality early education each year
1,800+
teachers and educators supported each year
150+
child development centers and home-based providers supported
