NC Birth-to-Three Quality Initiative
We partner with early childhood programs across North Carolina to elevate infant–toddler care through expert coaching, training and consistent statewide support.
Program
Technical Assistance
Receive tailored coaching and technical assistance to boost quality across your program.
Technical Assistance for Early Childhood & School Age Programs
The quality of early care and education a young child receives has been shown to dramatically impact his or her social, emotional, physical and intellectual development, and ultimately success in school and life. Early Years provides technical assistance (TA) to child care centers and family child care homes as they work to improve program practices and standards in an effort to increase or maintain higher star-ratings.
Learn More About
Technical Assistance
We recognize the individual needs and goals of child care programs and tailor our services to meet the unique aspects of each site. We use a partnership approach to program change by building strong working relationships with our providers. We are committed to using research based teaching practices to improve early education settings. We also believe that sustained program quality requires ongoing professional development.
We seek to connect early childhood professionals with resources to enhance their skills and knowledge.
- Achieve the highest quality care and education for children
- Explore developmentally appropriate practices
- Focus on teaching and learning
- Access a team of early childhood experts
- Support your teachers and program staff members
- Improve communication skills to work with families
- Create the environment for early learning
- Successfully navigate the NC Quality Rated License and achieve 5 stars and beyond!
- Professional development planning
- On-site consultation, teacher coaching and classroom demonstration
- Access to a variety of early childhood resources
- Assistance with national accreditation
- Assistance with assessment tools (i.e. environment rating scales)
- On-site, individualized training
- Help with curriculum planning and implementation
- Assistance with classroom enhancement and design (includes indoor and outdoor learning environments)
Your time and commitment to quality improvement is the only cost. This is a free service. TA services are funded through a variety of sources which include the NC Division of Child Development and Early Education, Durham’s Partnership for Children, Orange County Partnership for Young Children, and Wake County Smart Start.
Yes, if you:
- Are located in Durham, Orange or Wake County
- Serve children 6 weeks to 12 years old
- Are currently licensed or plan to get licensed through the North Carolina Rated License
Quality Enhancement Initiatives
Building – up Family Child Care
The Strengthening Learning in Family Child Care project serves licensed family child care homes in Durham County. Participating Family Child Care programs will be able to select needed support from a menu of tiered areas related to licensing, business practices, instructional supports, and improving health and wellness including outdoor learning environments.
Accreditation Support
Accreditation Support provides coaching and consultation for child care centers wishing to achieve NAEYC National Accreditation. This is a long term process that helps child care centers prepare for NAEYC Accreditation. Participants will receive technical assistance, participate in Communities of Practice (support group), and work to complete the stages of the accreditation process. Financial support is available to help cover partial cost of each phase of the accreditation process. Available in Durham, Orange and Wake counties.
Technical Assistance – NC Rated License
Early Years is also available to provide technical assistance to child care centers and family child care homes to support improving program quality related to the NC Rated License system. Support includes opening/licensing a center or family child care home, school-age programs, preparing for Environment Rating Scales, and professional development planning. Available in Durham, Orange and Wake counties.
Shaping Healthy Lives
Shaping Healthy Lives (SHL) serves 4 or 5 star child care programs in Durham County. This project aims to reduce childhood obesity and increase physical activity in children ages birth-5 years in early childhood education programs in Durham.
Rebuilding Capacity for Quality
Rebuilding Capacity for Quality (RCQ) is available to 3, 4 or 5 star child care programs interested in making classroom and program improvements through coaching for teachers and center administrators. Participating programs will be able to select needed support from a menu of tiered areas related to licensing, administration, instructional supports, and high quality accreditation standards.
Available in Durham, Orange and Wake counties
CLASS® Assessments
The Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS®) is an observation instrument developed to assess classroom quality in infant through third-grade classrooms. CLASS® helps teachers foster a secure, supportive base for learning and exploration. Providers learn how to nurture children’s early learning while responding to their needs. Over 200 research studies demonstrate that children in classrooms with more effective teacher-student interactions, as measured by CLASS®, have better social and academic outcomes.
TA Interest Applications
To learn more, call 919-403-6950 or email us.
Related Programs
Professional Development
Build skills and improve program quality through our professional development opportunities.
Technical Assistance services are supported by the North Carolina Division of Child Development and Early Education, with additional support from Durham’s Partnership for Children – a Smart Start Initiative, Orange County Partnership for Young Children, United Way of the Greater Triangle, and Wake County Smart Start.
