Supports & Resources

Early Achievers participants should connect with their coach to get support in their quality improvement journey.

  • Coaches guide program participants through the process
  • Coaches provide ongoing support to implement goals and encourage program growth
  • Coaches are no cost to providers
  • Multiple languages available
  • Multiple ways to connect (online, phone, in-person)

Coaching is provided by DCYF’s partner Child Care Aware of Washington. 

Don’t have a coach? Find your coach here.

You will engage with online systems throughout your Early Achievers journey. They are:

MERIT is a workforce registry that supports early childhood educators in tracking their professional development, maintaining their training and education records, and accessing professional development opportunities.

The Coach and Educator Community Interface (CeCi) is an online platform designed to support professional development. This includes access to training materials and coaching, resources through the Media Library, and the Early Achievers tab where programs submit Program Profile and Video Highlights. CeCi also houses resources for both programs and coaches that directly support growth.

The WA Compass Provider Portal is a place to manage facility information for licensing and submit applications for Needs Based Grants or select funding opportunities. 

If you need assistance, work with your coach, or reach out to the QRIS Inbox at QRIS@dcyf.wa.gov.

The Program Profile is the first required component of Early Achievers. It is a self-assessment interview process by participant leadership, family, and staff that sets the stage for quality improvement activities.

Video Highlights are the second required component of Early Achievers, after completing the Program Profile. It includes planning a lesson or activity, doing the lesson or activity (while recording), and reflecting on how the lesson or activity went.

Records Review is a component to earn additional quality points beyond Quality Level 3.

Accreditations are voluntary processes where the services and operations of early learning programs are evaluated, verified, and recognized by an external body to determine whether certain standards are met. The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) has incorporated certain national accreditations into Early Achievers. This policy lists the recognized accreditations and details the process for requesting an accreditation review.

Early Achievers Accreditation Policy (English, Spanish, Somali)

These recorded Early Achievers webinars can help you navigate your journey in continuous quality improvement. The length will vary by topic, from 15-45 minutes.

DCYF hosts monthly webinars to connect with and inform the community of our work. Topics vary, and are typically offered in English, Spanish and Somali.

Visit the Professional Development Webinars Page.

The LOVIT Way Program Evaluation Process is a planning and evaluation tool developed by the Aboriginal Head Start Association of British Columbia (AHSABC). Tribal early care and education programs have the option to participate in this alternate quality recognition process, as part of Early Achievers. To learn more, check out the resources below:

The Military Child Care in Your Neighborhood (MCCYN) program provides fee assistance to eligible military families to offset the cost of child care in community programs, when on-installation child care is unavailable.