Birth to 3rd Grade Partnership is now the Cambridge Office of Early Childhood

The Cambridge Office of Early Childhood has launched a new website, www.earlychildhoodcambridge.org, to provide a one-stop-shop for the Cambridge community to access information and resources related to early childhood education and programs. The new website culminates a rebranding process for the Office of Early Childhood, formerly known as the Cambridge Birth to 3rd Grade Partnership.

The Office of Early Childhood works to develop an easily accessed, aligned, and coherent system of affordable, high-quality education and care that begins with prenatal care and extends through third grade. Sustained by the City’s Department of Human Service Programs and Cambridge Public Schools, the Office of Early Childhood serves as Cambridge’s central coordinating hub for early childhood information and quality improvement. The Office of Early Childhood is the lead office in designing, developing, and implementing Universal Pre-K in Cambridge.

"The renaming of the Birth to 3rd Grade Partnership to the Cambridge Office of Early Childhood is an exciting change for us. Although our mission and vision will remain the same, our new name provides more clarity around who we serve,” said Lisa Grant, Executive Director of the Office of Early Childhood. “It is our hope to be more visible, to provide greater access to early childhood information, and to serve as the early childhood hub for our community. This will be particularly important as we lead the design and implementation of Universal Pre-K in Cambridge over the next two years."

The Cambridge Office of Early Childhood website features:

• A searchable database of Cambridge-based childcare centers, providers, and programs for families
• Information about applying for preschool scholarships
• A calendar of events and workshops, with integration options for Google calendar users
• Classroom and program resources for early childhood programs and educators
• Professional development and training opportunities for early childhood educators
• News and announcements related to the Office of Early Childhood initiatives
• Data highlighting the Office of Early Childhood’s impact on the community’s children, families, and educators

“Providing children in Cambridge with a strong foundation of early learning, investing in our early childhood education workforce, and ensuring that Cambridge families have equitable access to childcare and early education options are all crucial factors in closing opportunity gaps in Cambridge and supporting Cambridge families,” said Yi-An Huang, Cambridge City Manager. “I’m excited that the Office of Early Childhood’s rebrand and new website will help our community connect more easily and efficiently with early childhood information.”

“Creating the Office of Early Childhood supports our initiative to implement high-quality Universal Pre-Kindergarten for every 4-year-old and 3-year-old in Cambridge at no cost to families and creates equitable access to early childhood resources,” said Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui. “The Office of Early Childhood’s rebrand and new website provides our caregivers a centralized place for Early Childhood information including training opportunities for early childhood educators.”

“Cambridge Public Schools is deeply committed to equitable access to quality early childhood education programs throughout the city,” said Superintendent Victoria L. Greer. “We are excited for the Office’s rebrand and improved access to information, and will support them in every way possible to ensure that our families are aware of the myriad of opportunities and services offered by the Office of Early Childhood.”

This fall, the Office of Early Childhood will continue to focus on the design and development of Universal Pre-K, support the newly launched Early Childhood Education Career Training Program, offer professional development opportunities for early childhood educators, provide school readiness initiatives, and more. For more information, visit: www.earlychildhoodcambridge.org