This Race to the Top - Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) annual performance report for the year 2014 describes New Jersey's accomplishments, lessons learned, challenges, and strategies New Jersey will implement to address those challenges. In December 2013, New Jersey was awarded $44.3 million to implement the Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) grant to help improve access to high-quality early learning and development programs for thousands of high needs children throughout the state. The RTT-ELC grant incorporates a prenatal to age eight approach and reflects the shared leadership, collaboration, input, and long-term commitment across four core state agencies--Education (DOE), Children and Families (DCF), Health (DOH), and Human Services (DHS)--as well as the Commission on Higher Education and the New Jersey Council for Young Children (NJCYC), which includes New Jersey's other public, private, state and local partners. At the heart of the RTT-ELC is Grow NJ Kids (NJ's Quality Rating Improvement System), which provides a road map to achieving quality for early learning and care programs across settings. With grant funds, New Jersey is developing the rating system, providing incentives for participants, and validating the system to ensure that the levels are associated with positive outcomes for children. New Jersey established a regional NJ Early Learning Training Academy (Academy), led by Rutgers University, Center for Effective School Practices, to align early childhood workforce preparation. Of the many responsibilities for the Academy, one notable focus is the extensive training and supports that focus on infant and young child mental health and social-emotional development. Additionally, the grant will help New Jersey to address the success of children as well as the quality of programs through third grade. By implementing a kindergarten entry assessment system (NJKEA), now in year one of implementation, and building upon the preschool and kindergarten guidelines with the design and implementation of best-practice guidelines for 1st-3rd grades, the grant will position New Jersey as a national leader in PreK-3rd grade practices. In short, year one of the RTT-ELC grant has provided a blueprint for state and local entities on how to address the comprehensive needs of children and their families in an intentional manner throughout the great state of New Jersey. [For "At a Glance: The Race to the Top - Early Learning Challenge Year 2014 Progress Report," see ED583096.]