Arapahoe County Early Childhood Council (ACECC) is a collaborative promoting high quality programs and services which support a safe, smart, and healthy start for young children and their families in Arapahoe County. We are rooted in the values of community, collaboration, and leadership on behalf of children from birth through age eight. We work hard to promote an innovative network that links practice to policy and child to community.
As an independent nonprofit and one of the largest early childhood councils in Colorado, we’re uniquely positioned to serve as a hub for local partners, providers, caregivers, policymakers, and business leaders. We coordinate, collaborate, and align resources that support children, families, and early childhood professionals.
When we support early childhood professionals in their career, we make a difference in the lives of kids, families, and our community. Through our CO Shines Quality improvement program, we act as a support system for local childcare providers, building relationships and supporting people, before, during, and after they have been rated through CO shines.
Our CO Shines Quality Improvement program provides assistance with the rating process, face-to-face coaching, curriculum guidance, technical and administrative support, and ongoing professional development opportunities. In 2023, we provided, 4,524 hours of site coaching and $332,275 worth of developmentally appropriate supplies donated to providers.
"After completing the EQIT (Expanding Quality for Infants and Toddlers training) course offered by ACECC I began implementing the new techniques I learned and found it really made a difference in my classroom! I was also able to interact differently with the children than I ever had before. I'm so thankful I was able to take this low-cost class."
" I truly wish I could have taken this class before I had kids, or when they were little. I learned so much valuable information! I am putting into practice something new everyday at work."
"This information being taught, changed lives not just as a professional, but at a much more personal level. For me, this class is personal."
“Before we started (LENA), we ere nervous about being recorded, but once we got started, we loved it! It made me feel fair because I knew I was supporting each child when they needed it."
The Arapahoe County Early Childhood Council is a collaborative, promoting high quality programs and services which support a Safe, Smart, and Healthy Start for young children and their families in Arapahoe County.
We’re one of twelve original pilot programs created by state legislation in 1997 that eventually became part of the Colorado early childhood council system. Now, we’re one of the largest early childhood councils in the state of Colorado, offering quality improvement and family support services.
We were created to “connect the dots” between existing early childhood centers and support programs in the community. Our services fall under two branches that align with Colorado’s Early Childhood Framework, Quality Improvement and Family Support & Education.
Our Quality Improvement team works with early childhood centers, programs, and staff to encourage quality care and learning. We offer trainings and one-on-one coaching to support the early childhood ecosystem in our county.
Our Family Support team consists of in-home visitation programs and resource navigators to educate and support families with young kids.
We became the local coordinating organization (LCO) for Arapahoe County to administer Colorado’s Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) program, starting in the fall of 2023.
Organization name
Arapahoe County Early Childhood Council
other names
ACECC
2004
Tax id (EIN)
84-1607162
Category
Education
Organization Size
Large Organization
Colorado State Tax Credits
Colorado Child Care Credit
Address
6880 S. Yosemite Ct Unit 210Arapahoe County, CO, US