Early Childhood

FAQ for ECE Administrators

Licensing is a requirement for most early childhood programs and is conducted by the Arizona Department of Health Services

FAQ for Kindergarten

To be eligible to enroll in Kindergarten, a child must be 5 years old before September 1st of the school year for which the child will be attending.

Arizona Legislation

FAQ for ECE Professional Learning

The Arizona Department of Education (ADE) Early Childhood Education (ECE) team offers a comprehensive list of professional learning opportunities. To best meet the needs of the field, the professional learning courses range from 30 minutes to 4 hours and are available in both synchronous (live) and asynchronous (on-demand) sessions.

FAQ for HQEL

The document templates can be found under the "Monitoring and Fiscal Requirements" dropdown menu of this page.

FAQ for Parents & Caregivers

Resources to help Arizona families choose the right early childhood education program.

Arizona Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R)

State & Federal Grants

State & Federal Grants

The Arizona Department of Education facilitates grants and funding that support our schools at both the state and federal level. Below are links to each of the grant programs ADE oversees as well as resources, trainings, and information related to our Grants Management Enterprise system (GME).

Grants Management

Early Childhood Office Hours

Office Hours

 

The ADE Early Childhood Team is pleased to offer open office hours to the early childhood field. Office hours are identified based on topic areas, regions of the state (so you can meet with a specialist who supports at/near your program), and a variety of days/times throughout the week. Select the button below to enter the office hours you wish to attend.

Location-Based Support

ECE Western Region

Preschool Development Grant

Preschool Development Grant in Arizona

The Arizona Department of Education (ADE) Early Childhood Education (ECE) believes that every family should have an opportunity to choose a high quality early and care and education setting that promotes positive development of their child. Scientists, economists, and educators recognize research suggests early care and education beginning at birth is an investment that pays dividends as children enter kindergarten, move through the early elementary grades, transition to college or a career, and become adult citizens

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