EC Data Systems

New! Building Public Early Childhood Data Systems for a Multi-Ethnic Society

Written by Charles Bruner and Betty Emarita.  As states are beginning to build longitudinal data systems, it is incumbent that states build systems in ways that recognize and value the diversity of their young child population and provide the information needed to address current and professional gaps in readiness, participation, cultural awareness and recognition, workforce diversity, and stakeholder participation.  This issue brief provides concrete strategies for states to undertake to assure that data systems collect the information needed to close the achievement gap.

Opportunities to Incorporate Young Child Data into Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems through American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Funding

Written by Charles Bruner, with Michelle Stover Wright
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provides $250 million to the Institute of Education Sciences within the United States Department of Education to carry out Section 208 of the Education Technical Assistance Act.  The Secretary of Education is authorized “to award grants, on a competitive basis, to state educational agencies to design, develop, and implement statewide, longitudinal data systems to efficiently and accurately manage, analyze, disaggregate, and use individual student data, consistent with the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.”  This document provides valuable information related to this funding source.

This two-page overview describes Pennsylvania’s early childhood data system, which has been supported by the legislature and private funders. The ELN is designed to gather information on Office of Child Development and Early Learning programs, child outcomes, child and family demographics, and teacher qualifications and experience and to link with the K-12 data collection system.