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Early Care and Education Commonly Used Acronyms

Boy with wooden letter blocksDo you ever feel as if you're swimming in acronym stew?  Unsure if you really know what all those letters standing side by side mean?  We know how easy it is to get bogged down, overwhelmed and frustrated by all the acronyms being used in everyday speech.  

Here are some of the most common and popular Early Care and Education acronyms.  This list will continue to update on a quarterly basis.  If you have other acronym suggestions to highlight please contact alison.may@ncsl.org. 

Updated January 25, 2013
 

ACF Administration for Children and Families
CCDBG Child Care and Development Block Grant
CCDF Child Care and Development Fund
CCR & R Child Care Resource and Referral
CDA Child Development Associate certificate
CDS Child Development Services
DCTC Dependent Care Tax Credit
ECAC Early Childhood Advisory Council (also SECAC – State Early Childhood Advisory Council)
ECCS Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems
ECE Early Childhood Education or Early Care and Education
EHS Early Head Start
EIS Early Intervention Services
ELC Early Learning Challenge
EITC Earned Income Tax Credit
EPS Essential Programs and Services
EF Executive Function
ESY Extended School Year
FSSA Family and Social Services Administration
FFN Family, Friend and Neighbor Care
FAPE Free Appropriate Public Education
GPRA Government Performance and Results Act
GLR Grade Level Reading
HS Head Start
IEP Individualized Education Program
IFSP Individualized Family Service Plan
IEU Intermediate Educational Unit
KEA Kindergarten Entry Assessment (also KRA: Kindergarten Readiness Assessment)
LEA/SEA Local Education Agency/State Education Agency
MIECHV Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting
NECTAC National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center
OSEP Office of Special Education Programs
PD Professional Development
PET Pupil Evaluation Team
QRIS Quality Rating and Improvement System
RTT Race to the Top
SAU School Administrative Unit
SSBG Social Services Block Grant
SLDS Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems
TANF Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
IDEA

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act


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