Engaging families in a community of learning and growth.

  • A colorful logo with a stylized human figure at the center, surrounded by leaf shapes in blue, pink, yellow, and green, with the text "Who are we?" at the top and "ECL" at the bottom.

    We are a non-profit organization serving families in Austin and the greater Central Texas area.

  • A family of three, a father, mother, and young daughter, outdoors in a park during fall. The daughter is balancing on a tree log, holding a teddy bear, while her parents assist her. The mother has a bouquet of yellow leaves and is dressed in a yellow polka-dot dress. The father is wearing a mustard cardigan over a white shirt, and the daughter is in a plaid dress with gray tights. The background features trees with green and yellow leaves.

    Our programs are designed to support learning and growth for children and parents.

  • A family of four holding hands and walking outdoors on a sidewalk against a white wall. The text 'What do we believe?' appears at the top of the image.

    At ECL, we believe childcare should be a bridge — not a barrier — to opportunity. We create flexible, community-rooted programs that support families, empower children, and grow the ecosystems that help everyone thrive.

  • A young boy in a yellow shirt holding a magnifying glass, closely examining a flower in a garden with colorful flowers and green trees in the background.

    Our programs address the crisis of childcare access by redesigning services to better support families. Our success is measured in terms of family outcomes and the support of parents to achieve further education or career advancement.

Our Services

A group of children and a teacher are gathered on the floor, hugging and smiling during a classroom activity. The classroom displays alphabet and number posters on the walls and a chalkboard with numbers.

Parent Support

Programs to support parent’s pursuit of further education and career progression.

Two young girls sitting at the top of a yellow playground slide, smiling, outdoors at dusk. The older girl wears a light blue shirt and jeans; the younger girl wears a pink long-sleeve shirt and denim overalls. Background includes darkening sky and palm trees.

Child Programming

Programs to support child development, social-emotional development, and learning through play.

Two young boys playing and having fun in a pink kiddie pool outdoors on a sunny day.

Community Partnership

Our family-oriented programs depend upon collaboration with community partners, higher education, and employers.

  • The needs of the parent and child should be served in unison. Through a spirit of collaboration, we leverage childcare to promote growth for all learners, from early childhood through workforce development.

    ECL Founding Documents