Transforming Early Learning in Houston | Collaborative for Children
×
User Search
Give
Give Newsletter Signup

What We Do

We prepare children for the 21st century

Collaborative for Children Transforms Early Learning in Greater Houston

Empowering child care centers, educators, and families with certified early education programs and innovative tools

Contact us to become a center of excellence

We help children grow by improving the quality of child care, supporting educators, and guiding families. Our mission is to prepare every child for school and life.

Girl with line and star

Collaborative for Children Delivers Proven Early Childhood Solutions

 

We support early learning through a range of programs and services that include:

– Centers of Excellence that model mind enriching child care

– Certified ECE training and curriculum for educators and providers

– Family engagement programs like Parents as Teachers

– Mobile learning labs like the Collab-Lab and STEAM Shuttle

– Business development support for child care center owners

Our multi-generation approach supports both children and their caregivers, ensuring long-term success.

How We Do It

We use proven innovative programs to bring learning to life:

– Collab-Lab and STEAM Shuttle deliver hands-on STEAM and literacy experiences to underserved communities

– Real-time data tracking helps us measure child development and program success

– Digital tools and coaching support educators and center directors

These tools help children build 21st-century skills like creativity, problem-solving, and collaboration.

What We Do

We ensure exceptional safety and quality through:

– Certified early childhood educators

– Health and safety compliance with state and national standards

– Ongoing professional development for staff and providers

Testimonials “Our center became a Center of Excellence with Collab’s help. Now our teachers are more confident, and our kids are thriving.” — Child Care Center Director, Houston
Testimonials “The Collab-Lab brought STEAM learning to Discovery Green. My son loved it—and I learned how to support him at home.” — Parent, Acres Homes

Collaborative for Children Creates Lasting Impact

– Child care providers improve quality, grow their business, and earn recognition.

– Educators gain tools and training to deliver engaging, age-appropriate learning.

– Parents receive support to bring early education into the home.

– Donors and backers see measurable outcomes in school readiness and community transformation.

We help build a stronger future—one child, one family, and one center at a time.

We focus on five primary objectives:

  1. Invest in school readiness for all children
  2. Raise state standards for regulated child care programs
  3. Support well-trained early childhood educators
  4. Make quality child care affordable for all
  5. Fund full school-day public pre-kindergarten for children at risk

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is a Center of Excellence?

A: A Center of Excellence is a certified child care center that meets high standards in education, safety, and family engagement.

Q: How do I become a Center of Excellence?

A: Contact us for an assessment. We’ll guide you through every step of the process.

Q: How does Collaborative for Children support families?

A: We offer programs like “Parents as Teachers” and mobile learning labs that bring education into the home.

Q: What makes this different from traditional daycare?

A: Our focus is on long-term child development, not just supervision. Our early childhood programs are research-based and future-focused.

We are committed to delivering the best possible outcomes for children by fostering a learning environment that encourages growth from their first step on the path to tomorrow. By providing critical resources for business development, family engagement, and support for educators, we are putting the dreams of a lifetime within children’s grasp.

 

faimly engagement
Family Engagement

Using a dual-generation approach, our family support specialists work with parents and caregivers to strengthen the parent-child relationship. This collaborative effort seeks to ensure that 90 percent of them apply our skills and practices so children have the skills not only to be ready for school but also to succeed in the 21st-century workplace.

Line with star
Line with star
teachers
Teachers

Collaborative for Children’s mentors guide early child care education professionals in the use of data-driven metrics and results that focus on achieving positive outcomes. The goal is to assure that 70 percent of children demonstrate growth toward school readiness.

Line with star
Line with star
childcare centers
Child care centers

Our business development department and its business specialists support child care center directors and owners in creating viable business practices that sustain enrollment, child attendance, and teacher retention. Learn more about our Business Accelerator program.

Line with star
Line with star
curriculum
Collaborative for Children Curriculum

Our Centers of Excellence use a 21st-century learning framework grounded in a comprehensive research-based curriculum (I Wonder!, 2020 Frog Street, Neuhaus, Prelude Music, CD, and C-STEM) that supports our dedication to preparing children for school and giving them every opportunity for lifelong success.

Line with star
Line with star
Why Early Childhood Education? Children who experience a high-quality early learning experience are ready to face the future with confidence, and prepared to seize all of its opportunities. Learn More
Become a monthly donor for Collaborative for Children and help make a difference in the lives of Houston’s most vulnerable children. Donate Today

Are you ready to improve your child care center or support early learning at home?

Apply Today!