Centerprises: Where Business Meets Mission in Early Childhood

A systems-level solution for sustainable early education

At the Systems of Care Initiative (SOCI), we’ve learned that real change doesn’t come from isolated efforts — it comes from building systems. That’s why we coined a new word for a new way of doing business in early education: Centerprise.

A Centerprise is more than just a childcare center — it’s a high-performing early learning institution that operates with the business strength of an enterprise and the heart of a mission-driven organization. These are the community hubs where sustainability and excellence go hand in hand.

What Is a Centerprise?

In our co-founder and executive director, Dr. Janice Smith’s words, “We take what works from the business world — structure, financial planning, and operational excellence — and combine it with the best practices of early childhood education.”

A Centerprise is built on this integration. It’s a childcare center that functions like a well-run business — with clear strategy, data-driven decisions, and diversified funding — yet never loses sight of its core purpose: nurturing children and supporting families.

The result? Centers that don’t just survive year to year — they thrive for decades, becoming pillars of stability in their communities.

Why It Matters

Many early education programs struggle to balance high-quality care with financial sustainability. As Dr. Smith explains, “You can have the best system in the country and still get the same number of slots — because funding is fixed. What we’re doing through Centerprises is rethinking the entire model.”

In Kansas City, that means aligning with powerful partners like Operation Breakthrough and SchoolSmartKC to leverage data, shared resources, and funding across systems.

Mary Esselman, CEO of Operation Breakthrough, highlights the results:

“Last year, only 5% of children in one of our cohorts would have entered kindergarten ready. After a year in our program, that number rose to 87%. That’s not incremental change — that’s transformation.”

This isn’t just about children. It’s also about families, educators, and the workforce. “When parents can access full-day, full-year care,” Dr. Smith explains, “they can work, go to school, or pursue stability — while their children get the best possible start.”

Centerprises close the access gap that too often forces families to choose between employment and quality care.

A Model for the Future

SOCI’s Centerprise model doesn’t stop at program quality — it looks at sustainability as a key measure of success.

Through hands-on support, SOCI has helped partner centers expand capacity, add new classrooms, and secure capital grants. “We recently supported two Centerprises in securing state funding,” Smith shared. “That led to 130 new early learning slots — including 30 for infants and toddlers, the hardest to fill.”

These outcomes aren’t just numbers; they represent generational impact. Kris Collins of SchoolSmartKC notes,

“We now have elementary principals telling us they can spot the children who came from high quality early education centerprises. They’re leaders — academically, socially, emotionally.”

This data-driven, partnership-based approach is building a blueprint for sustainable growth that extends well beyond Kansas City.

A Systems Approach Rooted in Community

SOCI’s work bridges gaps — not only between programs, but between people. It connects educators, business leaders, policymakers, and families around one shared truth: these children are our children.

As Dr. Smith so powerfully put it:

“When communities begin to see children as ours — our families, our people — everything shifts. The environment becomes more cooperative, less competitive, and more focused on what’s possible.”

That belief sits at the heart of every Centerprise. Because when we treat early education as essential infrastructure, we invest not only in children, but in the entire ecosystem that allows families and communities to thrive.

Let’s Build What Lasts

SOCI’s vision for the future of early education is clear:

• Data-driven strategies that prove impact
• Partnerships that braid resources and expertise
• Centerprises that sustain excellence across generations

If you’re an early education leader, funder, or policymaker ready to rethink what’s possible, we invite you to join us.

Together, we can build Centerprises that last — because when we strengthen systems, we strengthen families, futures, and communities.

Learn more: www.socicommunities.org

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