North Dakota's Best in Class program is a targeted state investment in programs committed to delivering the highest quality experiences to the children and families they serve, and whose actions can demonstrate the return that is possible with intentional, research-supported investments in early childhood. ND Best in Class is built on program characteristics that drive results - high quality, supported interactions between adults and children based on developmentally appropriate experiences.
Teaching staff will be coached and supported in implementing developmentally appropriate environments, play-based curriculum, and authentic observation-based assessments to drive individualized experiences to support children in reaching widely held expectations in the year before kindergarten.
The work done in these programs will be monitored, evaluated, and supported to help ensure that the investment we make has an impact.
Who can apply to participate in ND Best in Class program?
North Dakota early childhood programs interested in quality improvement that serve children who have reached age four before Aug. 1, of the current school year are eligible to apply.
This includes:
- Licensed child care programs (center or group), including those operated through a church, business, or organization, that are in good licensing standing and participating in Bright & Early ND with a current rating of Step 3 or 4 or Nationally Accredited.
- Programs operated by educational facilities, public or private that are committed to completing the Four-Year-Old Program Approval every two years.
- Federally funded Head Start programs. If not also licensed by NDDHHS, program must have completed the Four-Year-Old Program Approval.
2025-2026 Best in Class Applications - Closed
- Check back in December for Cohort 2026-2027 Applications
Documents
Best in Class Program Deliverables
Funds are awarded four times during the 2025-2026 cohort, based on meeting the Best in Class deliverables. The deliverables make sure each program meets the expectations of Best in Class. Review the Best in Class Program description to learn more about the deliverables in each of the four milestones.
Milestone 1: Planning Deliverables
All deliverables for Milestone 1 are to be submitted to swild@nd.gov by Sept. 30 to receive 30% of your award. The SFN is due Oct. 11, it can also be submitted with deliverables.
- Submit a Four-Year-Old program calendar (includes days scheduled, days off, start and end dates and operating hours)
- Teacher completes coaching requirements - Verified by Coach
- Attends orientation (All Teachers)
- Environment Self-Assessment (New Teacher)
- Self-Reflection/Action Plan (Returning Teacher)
- Submit a preliminary budget using program budget template, including documentation of required matching / in-kind funds, to Best in Class Program Administrator (use below template)
- Enter both child and program-level data into STARS and Teaching Strategies. In Teaching Strategies, use the program or school site's nine-digit STARS ID (not the district ID) as the “Identifier.” For each child, enter their unique 10-digit STARS ID under their profile as the “Identifier.” Verified by the Best in Class Program Administrator.
- Submit a classroom roster, including children's first and last name
- Submit proposed Family Engagement Form (minimum of 10 hours being offered)
- Submit an SFN 1763 Form - Due Oct. 11
Best in Class Participation
Cohort 2025-2026
- Alexander Public School
- Altru Family YMCA - Grand Forks
- Belcourt School- Tiny Turtles
- Carrington Public School
- Cavalier Public School
- Central Cass Public School
- Coyote Pups Learning Den- CHI Williston
- Coyote Pups Learning Den - Life Church Williston
- Circle of Friends Preschool and Child Care - Valley City
- Drayton Public School
- Dunseith Elementary School
- Edgeley Public School
- Elgin/New Leipzig School
- Emerado Public School
- Finley-Sharon Public School
- Garrison Public School
- Grafton Century Elementary School
- Griggs County Central Public School
- Hazen Public School
- Hope-Page Public School
- Kiddie Korral 2.0 Child Care Center
- Killdeer Public School
- Kindred Public School
- Lakota School District
- LaMoure Public School
- Litchville-Marion Public School
- Little Scholars Preschool
- Maple Valley Public School
- Mapleton Public School
- Max Public School
- Mayville State University - Head Start
- Mayville
- Hillsboro
- Larimore
- Midway Public School
- Mohall-Lansford-Sherwood Public School
- Montpelier Public School
- Mt. Pleasant School District
- New England Public School
- New Rockford-Sheyenne Public School
- North Border School District
- Pembina
- Walhalla
- North Sargent Public School
- Northern Cass School District
- Park River Area School
- Pingree-Buchanan Public School
- Powers Lake Public School
- Raga muffins Ranch Daycare
- Richland #44 School District
- Rugby Public School
- Sargent Central Public School
- Sawyer Public School
- Solen Public School - Cannon Ball Elementary
- South Heart Public School
- St. John's Public School
- Underwood Public School
- Valley City Public School
- Valley-Edinburg School District
- Williston Basic School District
- Westhope Public School
- Wishek Public School
YMCA of Northern Sky
- Fercho - Fargo
- Schlossman - Fargo
- South - Fargo
- West Fargo
Questions about ND Best in Class? Contact Us.
Early Childhood
600 E. Boulevard Avenue, Dept. 325
Bismarck, ND 58505-0250
Phone: (701) 328-2115
Toll-Free: (800) 997-8516
Relay ND TTY: 711
Email: dhsec@nd.gov