Every child deserves high-quality early education

We improve the learning and development of young children through research that transforms policy and practice.

Homepage Hero Slide Yearbook 2023

The State of Preschool 2023

State-by-State Disparities Widening in Preschool Access, Quality, Funding

State of Pre-K Data Explorer

View and Compare State of Preschool Yearbook Data Across States and Years

NIEER Research

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A Practical Guide for State Teams to Increase Inclusion in Early Childhood Programs

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Including Family Child Care in Pre-K Systems: An Update at the Local Level

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Universal PreKindergarten Mixed Delivery Quality and Access

Latest news and blog post, the associated press: "this preschool in alaska changed lives for parents and kids alike. why did it have to close, we're hiring assistant research professor, preschool matters blog: implementing dual language immersion programs with intentionality, more research.

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Evaluation of the Philadelphia PreK Program

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Evaluations of Early Childhood Programs, Child Development, and Quality Investments in Indiana

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Including Family Child Care (FCC) Programs in Publicly-Funded PreK

International journal of child care and education policy, states should and can do much more to support assistant teachers according to a new peer-reviewed article by gg weisenfeld and kate hodges and abby copeman petig of the center for the study of child care employment (cscce) at berkeley..

Qualifications and supports for teaching teams in state-funded preschool in the United States

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Learn more about our work, research & program evaluations.

We evaluate nationwide early childhood programs, rigorously assessing impact. Data-driven evaluations span years, revealing strengths and weaknesses for targeted improvements.

Policy Landscapes

NIEER's policy landscapes offer insights into early childhood education policies, enrollment, and nationwide funding. Advocates, policy-makers, and researchers rely on them to improve the quality and accessibility of early childhood education.

NIEER Developed Tools

NIEER has created numerous proprietary research tools that include assessments, surveys, cost calculators, and evaluations, used by researchers and educators to gather data, analyze information, and evaluate the effectiveness of early childhood education programs.

International Journal of Childcare & Education Policy

The International Journal of Childcare and Education Policy (IJCEP) is a scholarly, peer-reviewed journal focusing on childcare and education policy research for young children.

Technical Assistance

NIEER provides technical assistance to state advocates on improving the quality of early care and education programs and understanding the costs associated with high-quality programs. NIEER is producing a series of Guides to PreK Expansion and other resources to support state and national advocates in their efforts to ensure all children have access to high-quality early care and education.

Partnership with New Jersey

New Jersey has a rich history of supporting early learning, evidenced by the state's Supreme Court decisions, legal regulations, financial investments, and committed state leadership. However, a pivotal turning point came with a landmark legal decision that sparked significant changes and laid the groundwork for progress over the last two decades.

Preschool Classroom

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