For Potential Partners
The best time to build a better future is in a child’s first years, and we are proud to steward the process.
Let’s team up for the future of Educare California at Silicon Valley (ECSV) and our children!
We’re teaming up for the future of Educare California at Silicon Valley (ECSV) and our children!
ECSV is embarking on a strategic realignment. We’re engaged in exploratory conversations with several aligned, established, well-matched partners to become the new lead organization for ECSV, to ensure we’re strong for the future, for the children we serve, their families, and our community.
We invite you to read more below about ECSV and our strategic realignment process and timeline.
We're exploring new partnerships!
The best time to build a better future is in a child’s first years, and we are proud to steward the process.
About Us
ECSV is narrowing the opportunity gap for children in East San Jose. Since 2015, we have served thousands of children and their families and caregivers. We work in partnership with families to build the social-emotional, math, and language skills children need for healthy development and to be successful in school and in life.
Powered by the Educare national strategy—exemplify, innovate, amplify—we have showcased high-quality early learning practice to hundreds of caregivers, educators, and other visitors from around the state, nation, and even internationally. ECSV is designed to be responsive to the unique needs of the community, and we ground our work on the four core principles of the Educare model: data utilization, embedded professional development, high-quality teaching practices, and intensive family engagement.
The Educare model is based on research from early childhood development, education, social work, and other allied fields. This national network and structure provides a supportive structure for early childhood education, while at the same time encouraging innovation and tailored solutions in response to local community needs.
We are proud to be a part of the innovative, creative, and resourceful community of early learning providers in California.
ECSV has been effectively narrowing the opportunity gap for low-income children in East San Jose for the past 8 years. The field and funding landscape is more robust than when ECSV started. We’re embarking on this strategic realignment to ensure we can leverage all the resources in the current environment. It’s a new landscape, and we’re ready to change with it to best serve children, families, and communities.
What is ECSV’s vision for what is possible with a new partner?
As part of the Educare National Network, we have connections to resources, valuable expertise, leading-edge practice, and feedback from the expert network of 25 schools nationwide. The network also affords us the opportunity to make a difference on federal policies, given the clout of the network.
What is ECSV’s unique offering in the local early learning ecosystem?
Our Board of Directors and our Executive Director are in unanimous agreement that new approaches will help ensure that Educare Silicon Valley is well-positioned to serve children and families well into the future. Executive Director, Shawn Gerth, is stewarding the transition process with help from an Ad Hoc Committee of ECSV Board members.
How does ECSV's Executive Director and Board feel about the transition?
We’re confident in our financial status for the upcoming year. Much has changed in the early childhood funding environment since our founding in 2015, and it’s time for us to think through a new business model that responds to the current environment, including maximizing public funding opportunities, which are the foundation of successful Educare sites across the country.
Is ECSV financially healthy?
Yes, several other Educare affiliates have adopted new business models to better serve their communities.
Has this happened at other Educares?
Frequently Asked Questions
Potential New Partners
We’re excited to share that we’ve received multiple expressions of interest from aligned, well-matched partners to become the new lead organization for ECSV.
Among the characteristics we’re looking for:
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Strong track record of collaboration
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Alignment with and innovation on Educare’s model and national strategy
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Commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion and to ongoing family engagement
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Programmatic compatibility (for instance, a focus on early childhood, location-based, a focus on building community, connection to Head Start, etc.)
We’re proud to be a part of the dynamic early learning field in California and nationwide with so many strong organizations working to create the best start for California children. We’re tapping into this community of care to find the best new partner to take ECSV to the next level, especially those driven by community engagement and with proven experience in innovative field building.
We’ve prepared an information packet for potential partners to help address initial questions regarding partnering with us.
Process & Timeline
Stewarding the process is our Executive Director Shawn Gerth, with help from an Ad Hoc Committee of ECSV Board members, all committed to providing the best possible early education to the children we serve.
We’re looking forward to many conversations with like-minded organizations. Our intention is to bring a new lead organization on board in early 2024 to start planning and operational engagement for the July 1, 2024-June 30, 2025 fiscal year.
Check back for updates and we’ll keep you posted on the process as it unfolds!