Microcenter partnerships occur when an entity offers space at their sites for high quality childcare seats. There are several microcenter partnerships in operation in the local early childhood network between the school system and high quality, Type III childcare providers. However, it is worth noting that microcenter partnerships can be collaborations between any entity and a childcare provider and not just a school system.

Microcenter partnerships offer the following advantages:

• Builds strong community relationships with the childcare centers and the neighborhood school communities
• Increases retention rates in the entity that accepts the children earlier than kindergarten
• Strong alignment of instruction and services for students
• Earlier access to high quality instruction that will increase kindergarten readiness

LAFORCE is working diligently to help establish mutually beneficial collaborations between entities and high-quality childcare providers to increase microcenter partnerships in the community.