Research That Prioritizes Action and Equity
Our team of researchers brings deep expertise in early childhood development and learning, research, and evaluation to uncover and address critical issues facing early childhood practice, policy, and systems.
We work collaboratively alongside partners—from community members to leaders—to design tailored approaches that are appropriate for the context. We center equity by adopting culturally responsive strategies that prioritize the inclusion of historically marginalized communities in the research process.
We produce actionable research that informs policy, practice, and systems improvement. Our research and evaluation work includes:
- The development of reliable and valid assessments that measure children’s development from birth to age 8 across all domains of learning and development.
- Evaluations of the effectiveness of initiatives designed to enhance the quality of early childhood education and outcomes for children, including the assessment of the quality of environments and relationships in early care and education programs.
- Evaluations that provide timely feedback to improve the ongoing implementation of complex initiatives, such as quality rating and improvement systems, train-the-trainer professional development programs, and initiatives to increase equity in early childhood.
Our Work in Action
Kindergarten Readiness and Formative Assessment
Recognizing the importance of kindergarten in preparing children for ongoing learning success, our teams are actively collecting information about kindergarten readiness and assessing the learning and development of incoming kindergartners across essential domains. Our researchers use findings to analyze longitudinal county population trends and understand school readiness in relation to children’s home and classroom experiences.
Our early childhood research and evaluation teams are supporting continued research on formative assessment designed to enhance curriculum and instructional planning efforts.
