Early Childhood Support Organizations

Accelerating Excellence in Center-Based Early Childhood Programs

Early Childhood Support Organizations (ECSOs) partner with local center-based early education and care programs licensed by the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) to implement tested approaches to improving instruction and practice in high-quality program serving children ages birth through five years old. This effort is a key strategy of EEC’s continuum of supports for program leaders to ensure high quality services delivered to young children across the Commonwealth. The ECSO Initiative began in 2019 through a public-private partnership with New Profit, a national venture philanthropy organization that backs social entrepreneurs who are advancing equity and opportunity in America.

Learn more about the ECSO initiative here.

Services

• Implement
  Implement program-wide continuous quality improvement strategies using program data
• Facilitate
  Deliver job-embedded professional learning with educators through collaborative communities
• Support
  Support educators to successfully integrate curriculum and child assessment strategies to advance high-quality instructional practices
  Programs partnering with ECSOs should have:
  • A program leader willing to engage in continuous improvement and to build their skills as an educational lead
  • Commitment to intensive professional development that includes regular leader coaching, educator coaching, training, participation in professional learning communities and leader facilitation of job embedded professional learning for educators
  • Commitment to the use of a high-quality curriculum and assessment

How to access an ECSO

• Interested programs are invited to apply during a dedicated application period each year. EEC will communicate to all eligible programs about the application process.
• Selected programs will be matched with an ECSO based on the goals of the program and the fit of the ECSO model.
• If you have any questions about the ECSO Initiative, please contact Jamee Beaudry, Director of Program Quality Improvement ([e-mail])