Early Development Services
Early Development Services is a California-based non-profit early childhood education provider operating nine NAEYC-accredited centers and a network of 100+ home-based educators across five counties. It delivers Infant/Toddler, Preschool, and Pre-K programs to over 800 children daily.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1998
- HeadquartersSeaside, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Early Development Services does
Early Development Services, Inc. (EDS) is a California sole proprietorship non-profit founded in 1998 in Monterey County that delivers early care and education services for children from 6 weeks to entry kindergarten. Headquartered in Salinas with a Southern Division administrative office in Santa Maria, the organization operates two parallel delivery channels: (i) nine agency-owned, NAEYC-accredited centers in Seaside, Salinas, Santa Maria, and Guadalupe offering Infant & Toddler, Preschool, and Pre-K / Transitional Kindergarten programs; and (ii) a Family Child Care Home Education Network of more than 100 licensed home-based educators extending the footprint across Monterey, Santa Barbara, San Benito, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Cruz counties. The combined operation serves over 800 children daily, up from 44 at inception in 1998.
The technical / programmatic backbone is a play-based curriculum emphasizing sensory experiences and hands-on exploration across five core developmental domains, adapted to individual children’s strengths and interests, with RIE/Pikler-influenced practice at the Peninsula Infant & Toddler Center. Curriculum is delivered by a staff of 51-100 employees plus 100+ contractor educators; meals, formula, diapers, and snacks are included in tuition. Marketing and enrollment blend community referrals, institutional credibility with the California Department of Education and California Department of Social Services, a professional website, a Facebook presence, and an online parent portal (california.sishubbe.com) supporting digital intake and a state-governed waitlist.
Revenue is generated through two primary streams: (i) full-cost monthly tuition from private-pay families — published rates ranging from $675 (Preschool 2 days/week) to $1,430 (Infant full-time), billed monthly as a recurring subscription; and (ii) subsidized child care funded through the California Department of Education and California Department of Social Services for income-qualifying families (≤85% or ≤100% of State Median Income depending on child age, recertified every 24 months). Enrollment priorities — including for Child Protective Services referrals — are state-determined, and space is permitting under a continuing waitlist structure. The organization is founder-controlled under Executive Director Shannan Watkins, with no disclosed external investors, funding rounds, or M&A activity.
Early Development Services firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Early Development Services
- Legal name
- Early Development Services, Inc.
- Website
- https://earlydevelopmentservices.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1998
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Early Development Services is a California-based non-profit early childhood education provider operating nine NAEYC-accredited centers and a network of 100+ home-based educators across five counties. It delivers Infant/Toddler, Preschool, and Pre-K programs to over 800 children daily.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Early Development Services industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Early Childhood Education and Care
- NAICS
- Child Care Services (62441), Child Care Services (624410)
- SIC
- Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Toddler-Focused Childcare Centers (EDACAAAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Preschool Programs within Childcare Centers (EDACABAL), Early Childhood Education & Childcare Nonprofits (BPAGADAA)
Keywords
Where Early Development Services is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Seaside
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices11 records
Markets served
Early Development Services business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Tuition - Full Cost Services: Monthly tuition fees charged to families who do not qualify for subsidized services. Rates vary by child age group (infant, toddler, preschool) and attendance schedule (full-time, part-time 3 days, part-time 2 days). Space is permitting.
- Subsidized Child Care Services: Government-funded subsidized child care services available to families meeting income qualifications (based on 85% or 100% of State Median Income depending on child's age), family size, and need criteria such as employment, job training, homelessness, or child protective services. Recertification required every 24 months.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Infant Full Time (6 weeks - 18 months) |
| Subscription | Monthly | Toddler Full Time (18 months - fully potty taught) |
| Subscription | Monthly | Toddler Part Time |
| Subscription | Monthly | Preschool Full Time (Potty taught - entry kindergarten) |
| Subscription | Monthly | Preschool Part Time |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
Early Development Services product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Early Development Services provides early care and education for children from 6 weeks to entry kindergarten through nine center-based agency locations in Monterey and Santa Barbara counties and a Family Child Care Home Education Network of more than 100 home-based educators. Services include Infant & Toddler, Preschool, and Pre-K/Transitional Kindergarten programs delivered under NAEYC-accredited standards with a play-based, sensory-focused curriculum. Programs are funded through a mix of monthly family tuition and California Department of Education / Department of Social Services subsidized child care vouchers.
Product overview
Early Development Services provides a comprehensive suite of early care and education services through two delivery models: center-based programs at nine agency locations and a Family Child Care Home Education Network (FCCHEN) with over 100 home-based educators. The core offerings include Infant & Toddler, Preschool, and Pre-K/Transitional Kindergarten programs, all operating under nationally accredited standards. The company serves children from 6 weeks to entry kindergarten across Monterey, Santa Barbara, San Benito, and Santa Cruz Counties in California.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Infant & Toddler Program Quality infant and toddler care designed for children ages 6 weeks to fully potty taught, featuring close caring relationships with a primary caregiver, predictable routines, home/center connections, and hands-on exploration in a safe environment. Available in both center-based and Family Child Care home settings.
- Preschool Program Preschool curriculum that adapts to each child's needs across five core developmental areas, incorporating children's interests and abilities as the foundation for learning. Includes real-life community experiences and daily routines, delivered in NAEYC-accredited centers.
- Pre-K / Transitional Kindergarten (TK) Program A bridge between preschool and kindergarten offering a play-based learning environment that inspires children to discover, ask questions, and be challenged. Focus areas include social-emotional skills, independence, life skills, early literacy, and numerical concepts for children preparing to enter kindergarten.
- Family Child Care Home Education Network (FCCHEN) A network of over 100 specially selected Family Child Care Educators operating licensed facilities out of their homes, providing child care options across Monterey, Santa Barbara, San Benito, and Santa Cruz Counties. Combines center-quality standards with the personalized setting of home-based care.
- Center-Based Programs Nine agency center-based locations in Seaside, Salinas, Santa Maria, and Guadalupe offering early care and education for children from 6 weeks to entry kindergarten, delivered under NAEYC-accredited standards and including meals, snacks, formula, baby food, and diapers.
Quantifiable outcome
- Expanded from 44 children per day at inception (1998) to over 800 children daily across centers and family child care network
Companies that use Early Development Services
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Early Development Services technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Early Development Services partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Early Development Services competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Kidango: California nonprofit early childhood education provider operating multiple centers and home-based networks serving low-income families via state subsidies. Directly comparable to EDS in mission, California-focused service model, and CDE/DSS funding dependency.
- Children's Council of San Francisco: San Francisco nonprofit administering child care subsidies, family child care networks, and direct center-based services. Closely comparable mission, hybrid model, and California subsidy dependency to EDS.
- CocoKids (Contra Costa Child Care Council): California nonprofit child care resource, referral, and direct-service agency operating centers and family child care networks. Highly comparable to EDS as a multi-county California provider leveraging state subsidy programs.
- Wu Yee Children's Services: San Francisco-based nonprofit providing subsidized early childhood education through centers and a family child care network. Directly comparable to EDS as a California nonprofit operating a hybrid center + FCCHEN model funded by state contracts.
- Child Development Centers (CDC): California nonprofit operating center-based early childhood programs and a Family Child Care Home Education Network funded by CDE. Closely matches EDS's dual delivery model and California subsidy-driven revenue mix.
- Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo (CAPSLO): CAPSLO's Child Care & Development Services operates centers and family child care networks in San Luis Obispo County, an adjacent geography to EDS. Comparable California nonprofit, state-subsidy-funded ECE provider.
- Child Care Resource Center (CCRC): California nonprofit child care resource and referral agency administering subsidized child care across multiple counties with a large FCCHEN. Operates a near-identical model to EDS in scale, funding mix, and service population.
Regional players
- YMCA of the Monterey Peninsula: Local YMCA operating licensed child care and early learning programs in Monterey County. Directly competes with EDS for the same families and subsidy dollars in overlapping geographies, though broader in scope (youth sports, camps, etc.).
Broad incumbents
- KinderCare Learning Companies: National for-profit early childhood education chain with ~1,500 centers. Comparable product offering (infant, toddler, preschool, Pre-K) but operates as a private-pay, publicly traded platform rather than a California-subsidy-funded nonprofit.
- Bright Horizons Family Solutions: National publicly traded child care and early education provider with employer-sponsored centers. Comparable in operating model but operates at vastly larger scale, for corporate clients, and across geographies rather than state-subsidy families.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks1 record
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Early Development Services social profiles
Digital presenceEarly Development Services compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Early Development Services financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Early Development Services leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Early Development Services funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Early Development Services M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Early Development Services
What does Early Development Services do?
Early Development Services provides early care and education for children from 6 weeks to entry kindergarten through nine center-based agency locations in Monterey and Santa Barbara counties and a Family Child Care Home Education Network of more than 100 home-based educators. Services include Infant & Toddler, Preschool, and Pre-K/Transitional Kindergarten programs delivered under NAEYC-accredited standards with a play-based, sensory-focused curriculum. Programs are funded through a mix of monthly family tuition and California Department of Education / Department of Social Services subsidized child care vouchers.
Is Early Development Services a public or private company?
Early Development Services is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Early Development Services founded?
Early Development Services was founded in 1998. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Early Development Services based?
Early Development Services is headquartered in Seaside, United States, in the North America region.
How does Early Development Services make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Tuition - Full Cost Services are the primary driver. The others are subsidized Child Care Services.
Who are Early Development Services's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Kidango, Children's Council of San Francisco, CocoKids (Contra Costa Child Care Council), Wu Yee Children's Services, Child Development Centers (CDC), Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo (CAPSLO) and Child Care Resource Center (CCRC). YMCA of the Monterey Peninsula is listed as a regional player. Broad incumbents are KinderCare Learning Companies and Bright Horizons Family Solutions.
Does Early Development Services have an API?
No public API is recorded for Early Development Services.
What industry is Early Development Services in?
Early Development Services's product category is Early Childhood Education and Care. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDACAAAG, Toddler-Focused Childcare Centers, with a secondary code of EDACABAL, Preschool Programs within Childcare Centers. Its NAICS code is 62441 and its SIC code is 8351.