Our Mission:
Access | Quality | Sustainability
We strive to provide all of Orcas Island’s youngest students permanent access to high quality pre-school education.
What We Do
The Early Childhood Education Initiative (ECEI) brings together lead educators and board members from Orcas Island’s three licensed preschools with knowledgeable community members and expert advisors. The ECEI Steering Committee meets regularly to: monitor progress on mission-related goals, review and approve educator-developed strategies to strengthen access and quality, allocate funds to implement these strategies, and develop and implement sustainability strategies.
What We Do
The Early Childhood Education Initiative (ECEI) brings together lead educators and board members from Orcas Island’s three licensed preschools with knowledgeable community members and expert advisors. The ECEI Steering Committee meets regularly to: monitor progress on mission-related goals, review and approve educator-developed strategies to strengthen access and quality, allocate funds to implement these strategies, and develop and implement sustainability strategies.
Our Partners
The Early Childhood Education Initiative spans three distinct pre-school programs: Children’s House, Orcas Montessori School, and Kaleidoscope Pre-school, cumulatively enrolling ~100 3-5 year old students annually. All three programs take collective responsibility for achieving ECEI’s mission and goals. They share the initiative’s financial resources based what each program needs to achieve our common access and quality goals.
Our Partners
The Early Childhood Education Initiative spans three distinct pre-school programs: Children’s House, Orcas Montessori School, and Kaleidoscope Pre-school, cumulatively enrolling ~100 3-5 year old students annually. All three programs take collective responsibility for achieving ECEI’s mission and goals. They share the initiative’s financial resources based what each program needs to achieve our common access and quality goals.
Our Impact
The Early Childhood Education Initiative has produced objective results including universal access to at least 12 hours per week of preschool education for local 3-5 year old children and significant gains in teaching quality and in student learning and development.
250+
STUDENTS SERVEd
More than 250 preschool students and families in financial need have received access to high quality pre-k education through ECEI.
20
EDUCATORS EMPOWERED
All educators in our three partner programs have access to certification classes and data-guided professional development and coaching.
96%
Kindergarten-ready
Kindergarten-readiness drastically improved toward ALL students being ready for school success as of 2019.
Our Team
ECEI brings together early childhood education board members, educators, advocates and experts committed to secure permanent universal access to high quality early childhood education on Orcas Island.
Get Involved
The Early Childhood Education Initiative has served over 100 preschool students and families with financial need, as well as supported over 20 early childhood educators to improve teaching practice in all three schools thanks to charitable contributions of our donors. All donations to ECEI support continued high-quality instruction to the 60+ preschool students at Children’s House, Kaleidoscope, and Orcas Montessori School.
GET IN TOUCH
For any general concerns and inquiries, please visit out Contact page for ways to get in touch with someone at ECEI.
GET INVOLVED
Learn about opportunities to get involved with ECEI and help empower our mission to provide better education for our Orcas kids.
Make a Donation
ECEI operates on donations from our community. Help us sustain and expand our mission with a charitable contribution at the link below.