Event Archives

Policy Challenges Conference: Bridging Research and Practice
State Investments in Early Childhood Education Programs

May 14, 2009

Regional Educational Laboratory Northeast and Islands in collaboration with Maine Children's Growth Council

Columbus Hall at the St. Paul Center (a.k.a. Governor Hill House)

136 State Street

Augusta, Maine

This conference brought together a national expert on early childhood education (ECE) research, Dr. Christine Ross, with members of the Maine State Legislature. Early childhood education is a priority for Maine Governor John Baldacci and the state legislature. In March 2009, the Governor’s Task Force on Early Childhood released the “Report of Priority Recommendations for Early Childhood Investments in Maine,” which contributes information to support an initiative that will implement a long-term plan for a unified, statewide early childhood services system. The report outlines the task force’s investment priorities: supporting parent education, building public-private partnerships to support ECE, and investing in the work force needed to provide high-quality child care and education. The state legislature requested REL-NEI's support to learn about early childhood research that might inform their American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and other funding decisions on ECE investments.

Dr. Ross is a senior economist at Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. Her research focuses on the effects of early childhood interventions on the development of young children at educational risk. Her research has included Head Start, state child-care subsidy programs, state pre-kindergarten programs, and other early education settings for infants, toddlers, and preschool-age children. She is directing a systematic review of research on preschool classroom practices and other strategies that could be used by Head Start programs to improve child outcomes. Before joining Mathematica, Dr. Ross worked as a research associate for the National Academy of Sciences and as associate analyst for the Congressional Budget Office.

At the conference, Dr. Ross presented research conducted by the What Works Clearinghouse, at the Institute of Education Sciences, on ECE, as well as research conducted on the impacts of a variety of early childhood programs, including Head Start, Early Head Start, and state pre-k programs. She discussed how to measure and ensure high-quality child care, including tracking data over time. Additionally, Dr. Ross shared research conducted in New Jersey and North Carolina, and related it to the Maine context, especially regarding work force development.

More Information:

Related Resources (What Works Clearinghouse):

• Early Childhood Education
• Early Childhood Education Abstract