Research Connections’ librarians have curated this page to include publications that may be of particular interest to child care and early education policymakers, professionals supporting the workforce, and researchers. The publications were selected because they align with federal priorities, seasonal priorities, current events, or national interest. Many of the highlighted publications have been featured in Research Connections newsletters.
This brief explores theories on how to sustain the benefits of attending preschool through elementary school. The theories come from studies using data from students enrolled in Boston Public Schools and explore whether sustained preschool benefits are associated with skill type, post-…
What do preschool administrators think about preschool inclusion? This study examines key themes from interviews with 23 preschool administrators to gain a better understanding of perspectives on preschool inclusion and what resources are required to provide high-quality preschool inclusion.…
Black, Latina, and Latino prekindergarten teachers, directors, and technical assistance providers participated in six listening sessions in April 2022. The purpose of these listening sessions was to understand participants’ perceptions of ECERS-3. This brief summarizes key themes that emerged…
The COVID-19 pandemic affected the ability to directly assess children. Using data from Head Start, this report examines whether an alternate measure—teacher reports—can be used reliably when direct assessments are unavailable. The findings indicate that teacher reports have strong associations…
How much does a teacher’s education matter? This study looks at the education levels of assistant teachers in prekindergarten classes to determine whether education levels play a role in the assessment scores of at-risk children. The findings indicate that, although the education levels of lead…
The COVID-19 pandemic affected the ability to directly assess children. Using data from Head Start, this report examines whether an alternate measure—teacher reports—can be used reliably when direct assessments are unavailable. The findings indicate that teacher reports have strong associations…
This 2021 Longitudinal Workforce Report provides information from the National Workforce Registry Alliance. The report uses data from 14 registries that “met quality standards in the data collection and reporting on early childhood and out-of- school-time workforce data” (p. 2). Analyses…
How does a teacher’s education matter? This study looks at the education levels of assistant teachers in prekindergarten classes to determine whether education levels play a role in the assessment scores of at-risk children. The findings indicate that, although the education levels of lead…
The COVID-19 pandemic affected the ability to directly assess children. Using data from Head Start, this report examines whether an alternate measure—teacher reports—can be used reliably when direct assessments are unavailable. The findings indicate that teacher reports have strong associations…
Child care is increasingly unaffordable for many American families. This study looks at child care centers’ participation in child care subsidy systems which help families with low incomes access child care. The authors use nationally representative data from the 2012 National Survey of Early…
Reading difficulties that “begin early in life are devastatingly stable across a child’s school career.” This study examines the results of a pilot program that delivered language instruction to preschool children who were eligible for free or reduced lunches at their program. The project…
Child care closures during the COVID-19 pandemic exposed many families with young children to challenging situations. This study looks at whether child masking prevented child care program closures during the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings from all 50 states found that child masking early in the…
This report from the Johns Hopkins University Institute for Innovation in Development, Engagement, and Learning Systems provides an evaluation of 2019 QRIS policies from 39 states. The report was developed for Maryland and provides information relevant for the Maryland EXCELS program in addition…