Resources
There are unlimited resources to help you learn about the importance of Early Learners.
Parent Connection
Finding information or help in raising children with disabilities and special health care needs doesn't need to be difficult. That's where we can help by serving as a resource center for information, referrals and support. Resources are available at no charge to families of children with disabilities or special health care needs.
SD Statewide Family Engagement Center
SDSFEC unites students, families, schools, and communities together by focusing on learner needs from “cradle to career.” SFEC strives to ensure that all learners—especially English Language Learners (ELL), economically disadvantaged learners and minority students—have the support they need to achieve academic, career, and life goals.
DOE/Step Ahead
This website is dedicated to kids. From the moment they're born, they're learning - through experiences, exploration, interactions and attention. How do we help them Step Ahead before they start kindergarten? By first educating ourselves. Throughout this site you'll find developmentally appropriate goals for children’s development and learning at each age level (infant, toddler and preschooler).You'll also find ideas for helping them reach their full potential at each stage. Research shows that children who experience quality care and education are better prepared for school and throughout their lives.
Head Start
Head Start is a Federal program that promotes the school readiness of children from birth to age five from low-income families by enhancing their cognitive, social, and emotional development. Head Start programs provide a learning environment that supports children's growth in many areas such as language, literacy, and social and emotional development. Head Start emphasizes the role of parents as their child's first and most important teacher. These programs help build relationships with families that support family well-being and many other important areas.
NAEYC
The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is a professional membership organization that works to promote high-quality early learning for all young children, birth through age 8, by connecting early childhood practice, policy, and research. We advance a diverse, dynamic early childhood profession and support all who care for, educate, and work on behalf of young children. The association comprises nearly 60,000 individual members of the early childhood community and more than 50 Affiliates, all committed to delivering on the promise of high-quality early learning. Together, we work to achieve a collective vision: that all young children thrive and learn in a society dedicated to ensuring they reach their full potential.
Zero to Three
Their mission is to ensure that all babies and toddlers have a strong start in life. At ZERO TO THREE, we envision a society that has the knowledge and will to support all infants and toddlers in reaching their full potential. This site includes developmental growth of children, early learning resources, parenting resources and public and advocacy resources.
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South Dakota Early Childhood Enrichment (ECE) System
South Dakota’s Early Childhood Enrichment (ECE) system promotes the health, safety, and development of young children in early childhood programs. The ECE statewide training system was established to meet the growing demand for early childhood and school-age training and to help recruit and retain quality child care providers across South Dakota. Five regional offices make up the SD Early ECE System:
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Region 1: Early Childhood Connections, Rapid City
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Region 2: The Right Turn, Inc., Pierre
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Region 3: Sanford Children's CHILD Services, Aberdeen
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Region 4: Family Resource Network, Brookings
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Region 5: Sanford Children's CHILD Services, Sioux Falls
ECE programs offer a systematic approach to providing early childhood and school-age education services and technical assistance. Services are available to all child care providers, parents, and others involved in the day-to-day care of children and youth. ECE agencies can also assist communities working on the development of quality child care programs and services. A regional map and contact information for each office can be found at: https://dss.sd.gov/childcare/educationalopportunities/sites.aspx.
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The Early Childhood Enrichment (ECE) system offers a continuum of state, regional and local face to face and e-learning training opportunities from entry level training to specialized certificate and credential programs for child care providers. The system also provides technical assistance and coaching opportunities to state registered and licensed child care providers in a variety of topic areas. In addition, programs such as Pathways to Professional Development Career Lattice are offered to promote education, training, and professional growth of child care providers and training for parents of children birth to age 3.
Additional information on the ECE system and upcoming training can be found on the following website: https://dss.sd.gov/childcare/educationalopportunities/.
