Resources for Advocacy

ECE Resources and Research Studies

• The Urgent Need for Childcare – ReadyNation’s 2019 study examining the economic impacts of the nation’s child care crisis on infants and toddlers, working parents, employers, and taxpayers describes an annual cost of $57 billion in lost earnings, productivity, and revenue.
• Universal High-Quality Preschool in NJ: Academic Outcomes Through 10th Grade – Higher achievement test scores and lower rates of grade repetition for children who attended a New Jersey universal preschool program persist through 10th grade, according to new NIEER research published in Early Childhood Research Quarterly.
• Strategies for Improving Early Educator Preparation – We know that high-quality ECE requires teachers who are able to access quality, affordable training so that they’re well-prepared prior to entering the classroom, supported in their professional growth once they’re in the classroom, and paid well enough to remain in the classroom rather than leave for a more lucrative profession. Now, a new report from Bellwether Education Partners, HeadStarter Network, and the National Head Start Association full of innovative ideas for improving the preparation and support of early educators is sure to spark conversations in the ECE field. The report outlines five strategies for bringing about an effective early educator preparation system.
• Professional Characteristics of the Early Care and Education Workforce: Descriptions by Race, Ethnicity, Languages Spoken, and Nativity Status – Racial and ethnic, linguistic, and cultural diversity in early care and education (ECE) settings are emerging as critically important aspects of provider quality. Young children from a variety of racial and ethnic, cultural, and linguistic backgrounds benefit from culturally diverse experiences in the classroom, as well as experiences that support their households’ cultural background (Reid & Kagan, 2015). This report describes the professional characteristics and motivations of teachers and caregivers working in center-based and home-based settings by race and Hispanic ethnicity, languages spoken, and nativity status.
• State of Babies Yearbook: 2021 – The state where a child is born and lives during their first three years makes a big difference in their chance for a strong start in life. See how your state stacks up—and where significant disparities exist in the opportunities available for babies of color to thrive. The State of Babies Yearbook: 2021 compares national and state-by-state data on the well-being of infants and toddlers.
• The State of Preschool Yearbook 2020 – Created in 2002, the NIEER’s state preschool yearbook is the only annual national report on state-funded preschool programs, tracking enrollment, spending, and policies to support quality. This year’s report includes special sections on the pandemic’s impact and policies to support dual language learners.