ElevatEd is pioneering bold solutions to transform the field of early childhood Jewish education.
ElevatEd is a groundbreaking initiative designed to transform the field of early childhood Jewish education (ECJE) by recruiting, training, mentoring, and supporting new teachers and directors. To date, two years into its five-year pilot, ElevatEd has trained more than 900 new professionals in 13 pioneer communities across North America. By investing in emerging early childhood Jewish educators, ElevatEd seeks to unlock the potential of ECJE as a driver of deep, long-term family engagement in the Jewish community. ElevatEd is a unique collaboration among JCC Association of North America, Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA), and the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ). The $17-million project is funded generously by The Jim Joseph Foundation, Crown Family Philanthropies, and the Samuels Family Foundation, and by Federations, foundations, and philanthropists in participating communities.
By investing in emerging early childhood Jewish educators, ElevatEd seeks to unlock the potential of ECJE as a driver of deep, long-term family engagement in the broader Jewish community. This pilot initiative, running from 2023 to 2028, is a collaborative project of JCC Association of North America, Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA), and the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ). Together with other funders, practitioners, educators, and community leaders, ElevatEd is pioneering bold solutions to an urgent crisis around the recruitment and retention of our educators. Initially introduced as Project-412, this initiative launched in five cities nationwide during the summer of 2023, seven more in 2024, and we are currently building our third cohort.
