About the Early Childhood Education Initiative

The Early Childhood Education Initiative (ECEI) focuses on engaging more Bay Area Jewish families with young children in meaningful Jewish life and community. The ECEI was launched in 2007 in response to the 2006 JESNA study which highlighted the importance of Early Childhood Jewish Education as a gateway for family engagement.

Mission & Vision

The mission of the Early Childhood Education Initiative is to be an innovator in Early Childhood Jewish Education by advocating for, and acting on behalf of teachers, children and their families, so that the Bay Area is known as a center of excellence in Early Childhood Jewish Education. In order to accomplish this mission and achieve the long-term vision of establishing the Bay Area as a resource and center of excellence in Early Childhood Jewish Education, the ECEI partners with numerous institutions, foundations, and individuals to realize its long-term goals. Currently, the ECEI offers several programs to the community that focus on Professional Development, Connecting with Families, Compensation & Finance, and Standards of Excellence.

Goals

The creation of community-wide standards for compensation and standards of excellence that will be shared throughout the community. 

A significant increase in the number of Jewish families with young children who are connected with Jewish education and choose to maintain their connections with the Jewish community.

The creation of a model for recruiting, training and compensating high potential Jewish adults into ECJE.

Programs

Professional Development:

• The Jewish Resource Specialist (JRS) program
• The Certificate Program in Jewish Early Childhood Education

Connecting with Families:

• The PJ Library®
• Beyond the Books
• PJ Goes to School

Compensation & Finance:

• Research study on four model schools, comparing compensation, professional development and overall operations. 

Standards of Excellence:

• The Focus on Excellence Project (conducted by the Bureau of Jewish Education)

For more information contact:

Janet Harris, Director of the ECE Initiative, at JanetH@sfjcf.org or 415.499.1223, extension 8104

Vivien Braly, Program Coordinator for the Early Childhood Education Initiative, at VivienB@sfjcf.org or 415.499.1223, x8106

Pamela Welner, Assistant to the Early Childhood Education Initiative, at PamelaW@sfjcf.org or 415.499.1223 x8105

Follow the ECE Initiative on Facebook and Twitter.

The Early Childhood Education Initiative is funded by the Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties, the Jewish Community Federation of the Greater East Bay, and the Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley, with programmatic support from the Jim Joseph Foundation, the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, the Maisin Foundation, and local donors. If you are interested in funding any of ECEI's programs, please contact Janet Harris at JanetH@sfjcf.org.