Early Childhood
The first five years are the most dynamic period for children’s physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development. Evidence shows that children who experience culturally and linguistically responsive early childhood development education programs are more likely to build a strong foundation for success in school and life. Abt collaborates with federal, state, and local agencies, nonprofit organizations, higher education institutions, and philanthropies to improve access to and affordability and quality of early childhood education programs. We analyze state and local policies, data, and funding to understand early childhood career pathway advancement and compensation. We help our clients expand opportunities equitably to serve children, families, and ultimately, communities. Our work heeds family and practitioner voices, with a focus on removing the systemic barriers of race, language, and culture in early childhood education programs and greater society.
Expertise
- Child Development and Care
- Head Start and State Preschool
- Workforce Pathways, Coaching, and Compensation
- Research and Evaluation
- Technical Assistance and Strategic Advising
- Policy Analysis and Design
Clients Include
Administration for Children and Families
State and local agencies
Higher education
Nonprofit organizations
Our Work
Family and workforce needs assessment for state preschool development grant (PDG), including mapping the supply of early childhood providers
Analysis of the relationship between children’s development and early learning experiences in both formal and information childcare settings
Finding that preschool expansion boosted early literacy and math scores and vocabulary comprehension, and families had employment and income gains
Study of the challenges and successes of migrant and seasonal farm worker families and the Head Start programs that serve them
Implementation and outcomes evaluation of a New Hampshire preschool development grant to strengthen the state’s early childcare and education system
Evaluation of a job-embedded professional learning and continuous quality improvement program for educators of young children in Massachusetts
Our Experts
Insights
Yes, We Can! – Strategies for Raising Compensation for the Child Care Workforce
Inadequate compensation of the early care and education (ECE) workforce has been a persistent problem in the U.S. and has reached a critical juncture. Particularly in the current economic environment, childcare providers are struggling to find and retain qualified educators, leaving fewer options for parents and less quality care and education for their young children. At the same time, those who do serve as early childhood educators, disproportionately women and individuals of color, often contend with low pay, limited benefits, and few opportunities for job advancement.
Back to School: Compensation Doesn’t Add Up for Head Start Teachers
The blog explores the challenge of Head Start's teacher shortage amid the “back to school” season, and the need to address fair compensation for educators.
Spotlight On: Early Childhood Care and Education
The first five years of a child’s life comprise the most dynamic period for their physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development. Children who experience developmentally, culturally, and linguistically responsive early childhood education programs are more likely to build a strong foundation for success in school and life.
How High Tech Supports Early Childhood Education Research
3 Questions To Promote Head Start Attendance
This blog asks how we can promote attendance in Head Start, which expands access to early care and education for children from low-income households.
Massachusetts Early Childhood Support Organization (ECSO) Year 3 Annual Evaluation Report
This report presents findings from the Massachusetts Early Childhood Support Organization (ECSO) ongoing implementation and impact evaluations.
Child Care Provider Appreciation Day: Valuing Our Providers
Child care providers provide vital, professional services that have a real impact on families; this blog explains why we need to compensate them accordingly.