FacebookBlueskyLinkedInShare
Home How We Help Early Childhood Development, Learning, and Systems

Building Strong Foundations for Young Children’s Growth

Providing evidence-based supports to strengthen early childhood systems and services

Get Started

Early childhood experiences shape the skills, confidence, and well-being that form the foundation for lifelong learning and success.

WestEd promotes safe, healthy, and intellectually rich environments that support children’s development and well-being. We build systemwide capacity through cross-sector collaboration, early intervention, mental health services, and workforce development to advance accessible, high-quality early learning and care.  

Our Capacities

WestEd works with agencies to advance early childhood intervention and mental health services by providing training and technical assistance, professional development, and resources for families and professionals. 

Featured Project

Developmentally Informed Trauma Practices in Early Childhood 

Our Developmentally Informed Trauma Practices service supports early childhood professionals in understanding and responding to the impact of trauma on young children and their families. We offer training and communities of practice that equip providers with practical strategies to promote healing, resilience, and healthy development from prenatal to age 5. 

Featured Service

Early Start Neighborhood 

For over 30 years, WestEd has partnered with the California Department of Developmental Services to support the professional growth of early childhood interventionists through in-person and online training, enhancing their ability to support infants and toddlers with disabilities and improve outcomes for young children and their families.

We assist with the development and implementation of state standards, child assessments, and curriculum tools that reflect current research and support high-quality instruction. 

Featured Service

Early Childhood Assessment Services

WestEd’s Early Childhood Assessment Service helps states and programs develop and improve assessments for children from birth through age 8—ensuring they are valid, reliable, and aligned with early learning standards to better inform instruction, track progress, and support school readiness.

Featured Project

Preschool Through Third Grade (P–3) Learning Progressions

At the request of the California Department of Education, we led the creation of the Preschool Through Third Grade (P–3) Learning Progressions to promote aligned, developmentally informed instruction across the early grades. The progressions provide research-based guidance that reflects the diverse strengths and needs of California’s young learners.

We strengthen early childhood education by providing research-based training and resources to recruit, retain, and empower educators, leaders, and caregivers, improving practice and program quality. Through programs like the Program for Infant Toddler Care, we ensure young children and their families thrive across all care settings. 

Featured Project

Family Child Care at Its Best

We lead Family Child Care at Its Best, a statewide professional development program funded by the California Department of Social Services—providing high-quality, research-based workshops that help family child care providers strengthen the quality of care and education for infants and young children across California.

Featured Project

California Early Childhood Online

In partnership with the California Department of Social Services, WestEd leads California Early Childhood Online, providing high-quality, evidence-based training for educators of children birth to age 5—improving early learning environments in California and around the world.

We offer independent research and evaluation services that support continuous improvement and inform early childhood program design and implementation to support all learners. 

Featured Project

Count Play Explore

WestEd is leading the evaluation of Count Play Explore, a California statewide initiative to strengthen early math and science teaching, and the development of web-based tools to build educator capacity and improve early math outcomes for children birth through age 8. 

Featured Project

Inclusive Early Education Expansion Program

WestEd led the comprehensive evaluation of California’s Inclusive Early Education Expansion Program, examining efforts across 65 district county offices of education to expand access to early learning programs for children with disabilities. We identified key strategies that support inclusive, high-quality early learning programs, providing actionable guidance for statewide and national implementation.

We work collaboratively to enrich engagement and ensure access to high-quality and affordable care for families and communities across the country. Our work directly supports meaningful systems of care that help families and providers deliver responsive care for young children.

Featured Project

Hawaiʻi State Plan for Early Childhood Development

WestEd is partnering with the Executive Office on Early Learning to renew and update Hawaiʻi’s Early Childhood State Plan. This effort will help improve programs for children from birth to age 5 and their families—ensuring services are timely and easy to access and meet local needs. The plan will guide leaders and educators, increase family engagement, and establish statewide data-sharing to monitor progress.

Featured Project

California Quality Recognition and Improvement System (QRIS) Revision 

WestEd is supporting the California Department of Social Services in updating their QRIS approach. We’re focused on building a system that helps families find programs aligned with their priorities and provides meaningful support to all types of child care providers, including center-based providers and family, friend, and neighbor caregivers. 

White and Black children sit together at the table and count on the abacus and smiles. Math lesson in elementary school

Ready to Build Strong Foundations for All Early Learners?

Connect with our WestEd experts. 

I would like to receive emails from WestEd with the latest resources, upcoming events, research, and career opportunities.
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

More Related to This Focus Area

Featured Services and Projects

Program for Infant/Toddler Care (PITC)

PITC provides professional development and resources for infant/toddler providers and the communities they serve.
Service

Developmentally Informed Trauma Practices in Early Childhood

DITP helps infant–family and early childhood workforces develop an increased understanding of the risks and impact of trauma on infants, toddlers, young children, and their families.
Service

Pre–K Mathematics Workshops

Our Pre–K Mathematics Workshops help close opportunity gaps through engaging instructional support for teachers and through coaching designed to help parents facilitate mathematics learning at home.
Service

Early Start Neighborhood

The Early Start Neighborhood provides a “home base” for Early Start professionals and partners seeking training, technical assistance, and resources on early intervention Part C requirements, implementation, and evidence-based practices.
Project

Early Childhood Assessment Services

Our assessment services explore valid, reliable, and appropriate ways to gather information about children’s progress from birth through age 8.
Service
Discover More Services and Projects

Back to top

Insights & Impact

Learning Progressions Blog Image

BlogArticles

New Guidance Aims to Align Teaching From Preschool Through 3rd Grade 

Leslie Fox Q&A

BlogArticles

Making Dollars Count in Early Childhood Education 

Three photos of young children learning math in a classroom

BlogArticles

Supporting PreK Learners: Early Math Interventions That Work

Q&A Early Childhood

BlogArticles

Transforming Early Math and Science Learning Through Count Play Explore  

Young children in an inclusive education program.

BlogArticles

Expanding Access to Inclusive Early Education for Children With Disabilities

BlogPodcasts

Leading Voices Podcast Series Episode 11: The Critical Role of Early Intervention—A Conversation With Angela McGuire

Discover More About Our Impact

Back to top

Events

PITC 40th Anniversary Save the Date

Events

Celebrating the Early Years: PITC 40th Anniversary Conference

Discover More Events

Back to top

Resources

Browse our high-quality publications and resources designed to inform and engage professionals in a variety of fields including K–12 education, early childhood, and health and justice.

BTS Collections Page

Building a Brighter Future: WestEd Resource Collection for Thriving Learners, Empowered Communities
WestEd Perspectives Collection

WestEd Perspectives Collection
CPE collections page

Count Play Explore: Building Confidence and Wonder in Early Math and Science
CECO Resource Image

Early Childhood Teaching Professional Development With California Early Childhood Online
IEEEP Collection featured image

Inclusive Early Education Expansion Program (IEEEP)
Discover More Resources

Back to top

Featured Experts

Catherine Goins

Catherine Goins is Senior Vice President of Early Learning, Health, and Human Development and a member of the agency’s senior leadership team. She is...
Expert
Arlene Paxton

Arlene Paxton

Arlene Paxton is the Director of Infant and Toddler Care. Paxton is responsible for the overall vision, strategy, operations, and business development of the Infant and Toddler Care Area. She has more than 25 years of experience working to design and develop systems that deliver professional development for early educators serving children from birth to age 3 and their families.
Expert
Leslie Fox

Leslie Fox

Leslie Fox is the Director for Early Childhood Mental Health, Development and Disabilities programs at WestEd. She is a nationally recognized expert in program evaluation and systems alignment, evidence-based practices to improve learning and developmental outcomes, and implementation science.  
Expert

Elizabeth Crocker

Elizabeth Crocker’s knowledge in child development, parent engagement, and staff development and as a trainer informs her approach to professional development activities. In planning...
Expert
Elizabeth Magruder

Elizabeth Magruder

As Vice President of Early Learning, Elizabeth Magruder leads complex, multiyear projects that advance states’ early learning and care systems, driving policy reforms and change efforts through systemwide visioning to improve the quality of learning experiences for all communities.
Expert
Peter Mangione

Peter Mangione

Peter L. Mangione is Senior Director of Early Childhood Strategic Initiatives at WestEd and directs the Program for Infant/Toddler Care (PITC), a national model for early childhood professional development. He has led the creation of early learning and development standards and curriculum, infant, toddler, and preschool program guidelines, resources for supporting young dual language learners, and early childhood educator competencies.
Expert
Photo of Osnat Zur

Osnat Zur

Osnat Zur serves as the Senior Director of Early Childhood Learning and Development. She is a developmental psychologist with expertise in children’s cognitive development, focusing primarily on early mathematical thinking and scientific reasoning.
Expert
Krista Murphy

Krista Murphy

Krista Murphy is a national expert in early learning and care systems that advance equitable opportunity and outcomes for children, families, and the workforce....
Expert
Jennifer Marcella-Burdett

Jennifer Marcella-Burdett

Jennifer Marcella-Burdett is a Research Director in WestEd’s Early Childhood Learning and Development area with over 15 years of experience working in the field of early care and education as a teacher, creator of professional development resources, and researcher/evaluator.
Expert

Back to top

Also of Interest: