Educational First Steps

Who We Are

Since 1990, Educational First Steps (EFS) has worked in underserved communities across North Texas to ensure every child — regardless of zip code — receives a strong start in life.

Mission: EFS creates and supports high-quality early learning environments that ignite the minds of children from birth to age five.

Vision: All communities across Dallas County, Tarrant County, Collin County, Denton County, Johnson County, and Grayson County will have equitable, high-quality early childhood education.

The Challenge Facing North Texas Children

In Dallas County and Tarrant County, thousands of children enter kindergarten unprepared. These gaps are deepest in underserved, low-income communities across DFW where access to quality childcare and high-quality preschool remains limited.

• 90% of brain development occurs before age 5
• High-quality early education yields a $13 return per $1 invested
• Early intervention closes the achievement gap and drives economic mobility across Dallas, Fort Worth, and the greater DFW area

What We Do — Our Model for Systemic Change

EFS drives change in early childhood education across North Texas through three evidence-based pillars:

CENTER QUALITY — EQUIPPING LEADERS

EFS supports childcare centers in underserved communities across Dallas County and Tarrant County through National Accreditation support, business consultation, and leadership development — helping early childhood programs across DFW reach the highest standards in quality.

EDUCATOR QUALITY — EMPOWERING TEACHERS

Through EFS's Training Academy, educators receive CLASS-based coaching and support learning their Child Development Associate (CDA) credential — a nationally recognized early childhood education certification that transforms classroom quality. EFS removes the financial barriers that prevent educators in low-income North Texas communities from accessing this credential.

SCHOOL READINESS — PREPARING CHILDREN FOR KINDERGARTEN

EFS equips classrooms with developmental screenings using the Ages & Stages Questionnaire (ASQ), early literacy instruction using the HATCH curriculum — an evidence-based program using interactive tablets to build reading and math skills through play — and parent engagement support across Dallas County, Tarrant County, and surrounding counties.

We are not just funding programs — we are fueling potential.

Our Reach Across the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex

• 144 Early Learning Centers across North Texas
• 900+ educators supported in Dallas, Fort Worth, and DFW
• 6,664 quality childcare and preschool seats
• 10,000+ children reached annually
• 6 counties served across the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex

What Your Gift Funds on North Texas Giving Day

Every gift on North Texas Giving Day goes directly to early childhood education programs serving underserved communities across Dallas County, Tarrant County, and DFW.

$50 Supports one child’s social-emotional development through targeted early learning resources.

$100 Screens 4 children for developmental needs, connecting them to support early.

$250 Equips one child with the HATCH early literacy curriculum an evidence-based program using interactive tablets to build foundational reading and math skills through play-based learning.

$500 Funds the application cost for one educator’s CDA credentialing journey - the nationally recognized early childhood education certification that transforms teaching quality in underserved communities across North Texas.

$1,000 Funds one month of complete EFS coaching and consultation for an early childhood center; CLASS based observations, teacher feedback, and leadership support.

$2,500 Covers NAC accreditation fees putting one childcare center on the path to becoming a nationally accredited, the gold standard in early childhood education quality.

Early childhood is where everything begins. Your gift on North Texas Giving Day invests in these first five years, the most critical window in a child's life - and the ripple effect lasts a lifetime.