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.
Infant and early childhood mental health consultation (IECMHC) is a method of preventing early childhood expulsion and suspension used in all 50 states. This review provides an updated look at the recent body of literature on the positive impact of IECMHC in ECE settings. The review discusses…
How did child care directors respond to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic? This study analyzes a survey of 27 child care directors on the unique challenges introduced by the pandemic. Many identified concerns with staffing and financial issues, increased stress, and a disruption in the…
A close, supportive teacher-student relationship in early childhood can have long-lasting effects. This study uses data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study to look at the role of teacher-student closeness and factors like cognitive flexibility and reading motivation on student reading…
This review provides a national overview of how state-level, center-based child care licensing regulations address exclusionary discipline. It contains state-by-state information on allowable and prohibited exclusions. Both in-program and out-of-program exclusions are included in this review.…
Are preschool teachers equipped to handle multilingual learners? This study looks at whether, and to what extent, teachers in New York City’s prekindergarten programs supported a culturally and linguistically responsive environment. The study finds that program leaders and teachers view…
This report looks at data from several large-scale, mixed-delivery preschool programs (community-based and public preschool) to understand the differences in those settings. Findings suggest some differences in child and teacher characteristics, child gains, and process quality but not in…
Many families with young children in early care and education are eligible for health and human services. This report from the Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation and Mathematica answers key questions about approaches to coordinating those services. The report highlights findings from…
Change is part of life; however, not all change is planned for or wanted. This study looks at the factors that contribute to child care changes among families with low incomes. The findings suggest that almost all planned changes were wanted, and that unwanted changes occurred with or without…
This resource describes the results of a training on childhood trauma, given to staff and parents of children in Head Start and Early Head Start. The training, which aimed to improve staff and parental knowledge and attitudes related to child trauma, found significant positive results. Staff…
What do assistant teachers in Head Start programs have to say about their workplace? In interviews with 35 primarily multilingual assistant teachers in Head Start programs, workers revealed that working with children and lead teachers are positive factors, as are supports for professional…
In a growing number of communities, parents are faced with “childcare deserts” – a shortage of licensed child care options. This study uses data from pre-pandemic rural Kentucky to examine the factors that contribute to the low supply of early care and education programs. The research findings…
This resource provides an extensive overview of the child care vaccination laws across the United States, including data from all 50 states and Washington, DC. The overview provides an assessment of child care laws about type of vaccines required, allowable nonmedical exemptions, child care…
Child care workers frequently “manage emotions within themselves, in parents, and children” (p. 3) and challenge the idea that such work is unskilled; this is a skill that must be learned and practiced. Any child care worker could tell you: Emotional labor takes work. This resource takes a close…