Educational First Steps

Who We Are:

Background: Educational First Steps (EFS) was established in 1990 with the purpose to transform existing childcare centers in historically underinvested communities across North Texas into high-quality early learning environments that positively impact kindergarten readiness.

Mission & Vision: Educational First Steps (EFS) creates and supports high-quality early learning environments that ignite the minds of children from birth to age five. Our goal is for all communities will have equitable, high-quality early childhood education.

Impact: In the last thirty-five years, Educational First Steps has positively impacted over 100,000 children and families in North Texas.

What We Do: Educational First Steps works to build the capacity and competency of early childhood educators so they can effectively prepare children for school beyond preschool.

Center Quality: EFS equips early childhood leaders in building strong, sustainable programs. Services include:

• 1:1 business consultations
• Operational planning and budgeting support 
• Center leadership development cohorts
• Credentialing support, including CDA pathways
• Educator retention strategies

Educator Quality: Through its robust Training Academy, EFS delivers:

• Individualized classroom coaching
• CLASS-based teacher-child interaction assessments
• Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) for continuous improvement
• Professional development focused on instructional quality, and culturally responsive practices 

School Readiness: EFS prepares children for kindergarten success through:

• Developmental screenings using ASQ
• Early literacy tools and data using HATCH
• Curriculum implementation and instructional design
• Support for social-emotional learning and parent engagement 

More than a program, our three pillars for systemic change is a movement to transform early childhood education in North Texas - once child, one classroom, and one center at a time. 

Why It Matters: Children with a high-quality early childhood education are 350% more ready for kindergarten than those without. 

Learning Starts Early: Less than half of Dallas ISD 3rd graders are reading on grade level. The early years are critical for building the skills they'll need to read and succeed - like language, problem-solving, social interaction, and emotional regulation. 

Quality Shortage: North Texas is experiencing a well-documented gap in access to high-quality childcare, particularly in underinvested communities. 57% of EFS-supported seats achieve high quality. 

Equity Gaps: Early literacy and school readiness gaps hit hardest in low-income Black and Latinx communities. EFS works in high-need neighborhoods where educators - mostly women of color - have long been excluded from quality training. By expanding training here, we advance educational equity where it matters most.

Economic Mobility: Without early intervention, children who start behind stay behind - EFS disrupts this cycle. Investing in early childhood education yields one of the highest returns on investment in education - up to $17 for every $1 spent.