Best Practices
The Abecedarian Project: High Quality Early Childhood Care and Education
The Abecedarian Project: High Quality Early Childhood Care and Education
The Abecedarian Project: High Quality Early Childhood Care and Education

The Carolina Abecedarian Project randomly assigned infants born between 1972 and 1977 to either the early educational intervention group or the control group. Children in the experimental group received full-time, high-quality educational intervention in a childcare setting from infancy through age 5.
Reports
Stuck in the Middle
Stuck in the Middle
Stuck in the Middle

This article discusses the middle school achievement gap and reviews a study completed in New York City public middle schools and K-8 schools.
Rapid Resources
Important Math Skills in Early Childhood
Important Math Skills in Early Childhood
Important Math Skills in Early Childhood

This webpage details the importance of early childhood math skills, and provides benchmarks for early childhood educators regarding math education.
Rapid Resources
The California Department of Education - Mathematics Frameworks
The California Department of Education - Mathematics Frameworks
The California Department of Education - Mathematics Frameworks

The California Department of Education (CDE) provides State Board of Education adopted Mathematics Framework by individual grade chapters.
Rapid Resources
The Beauty of Early Childhood Mathematics: Playful Math = Engaged Learning
The Beauty of Early Childhood Mathematics: Playful Math = Engaged Learning
The Beauty of Early Childhood Mathematics: Playful Math = Engaged Learning

Math instruction for early childhood learners can be playful and fun - not necessarily comprised of flashcards or worksheets. Teachers can highlight features of children's play that are mathematical, as well as creating math activities that are playful.
Rapid Resources
Explore scientific, technical, and medical research on ScienceDirect
Explore scientific, technical, and medical research on ScienceDirect
Explore scientific, technical, and medical research on ScienceDirect

Explore peer-reviewed journals, articles, book chapters and open access content covering a range of disciplines in ScienceDirect.
Reports
Empathy in the Workplace - A Tool for Effective Leadership
Empathy in the Workplace - A Tool for Effective Leadership
Empathy in the Workplace - A Tool for Effective Leadership

This white paper discusses the value of empathy in the workplace, as well strategies to increase employees' empathy.
Rapid Resources
Lifelong Learning Is Good for Your Health, Your Wallet, and Your Social Life
Lifelong Learning Is Good for Your Health, Your Wallet, and Your Social Life
Lifelong Learning Is Good for Your Health, Your Wallet, and Your Social Life

This article discusses the value of lifelong learning for personal health, finances, and social life.
Rapid Resources
Centers for Disease Control - Adolescent and School Health
Centers for Disease Control - Adolescent and School Health
Centers for Disease Control - Adolescent and School Health

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides a variety of resources - including data and statistics related to adolescent health and school health policies, as well as fact sheets - to inform educators and parents on adolescent and school health.
Rapid Resources
2019 Education Research Highlights
2019 Education Research Highlights
2019 Education Research Highlights

Every year brings new insights—and cautionary tales—about what works in education. This article highlights education research studies from 2019.
Rapid Resources
9 Core Behaviors of People Who Positively Impact The World
9 Core Behaviors of People Who Positively Impact The World
9 Core Behaviors of People Who Positively Impact The World

This article examines nine behaviors of people who have a positive impact on the world (based on the author's personal research and work).
Rapid Resources
DoSomething.org - A Youth-Led Movement for Good
DoSomething.org - A Youth-Led Movement for Good
DoSomething.org - A Youth-Led Movement for Good

This website provides opportunities for individuals to volunteer and participate in social change and civic action campaigns to make real-world impact on causes they care about.
Rapid Resources
National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse
National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse
National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse

This website provides resources and information to support strong fathers and families.
Rapid Resources
Community Service Ideas for Middle School Students
Community Service Ideas for Middle School Students
Community Service Ideas for Middle School Students

Community service for preteens and teens is becoming a requirement at many middle schools. Here’s how to make that volunteer time really mean something to your child.
Rapid Resources
Common Sense - Resources
Common Sense - Resources
Common Sense - Resources

Common Sense supports K–12 schools with lesson plans, educational technology reviews, and everything else educators need to empower a generation of digital citizens.
Rapid Resources
Government Relaxes Nutrition Standards for School Lunches
Government Relaxes Nutrition Standards for School Lunches
Government Relaxes Nutrition Standards for School Lunches

This article explains the changes in federal nutrition standards for school lunches.
Rapid Resources
Federal and State Funding for Child Care and Early Learning
Federal and State Funding for Child Care and Early Learning
Federal and State Funding for Child Care and Early Learning

This is a budget information sheet on federal and state funding for early childcare.
Best Practices
Expanding Early Learning - Full Day Preschool and Kindergarten
Expanding Early Learning - Full Day Preschool and Kindergarten
Expanding Early Learning - Full Day Preschool and Kindergarten

This report discusses research about the benefits of full-day preschool and kindergarten programs and provides aligned recommendations for local and state government leaders.
Rapid Resources
Perry Preschool Project
Perry Preschool Project
Perry Preschool Project

The Perry Preschool Study examines the lives of 123 children born in poverty and at high risk of failing in school. From 1962–1967, at ages 3 and 4, subjects were randomly divided into a program group that entered a high-quality preschool program based on HighScope's participatory learning approac and a comparison group who received no preschool program.
Reports
The Economics of Early Childhood Investments
The Economics of Early Childhood Investments
The Economics of Early Childhood Investments

An analysis of the impact of early childhood education. Report emphasizes its effects on achievement and economic (individual and societal) outcomes. Findings may inform local policymaking.
Reports
The Arts in Early Childhood
The Arts in Early Childhood
The Arts in Early Childhood

Led by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), several United States federal agencies have come together with a mutual interest in identifying and filling knowledge gaps in how the arts affect individual health and well-being across the lifespan. This literature review and gap analysis details the social and emotional benefits of arts participation and details what arts participation looks like in early childhood.
Rapid Resources
Best Beginnings: Alaska's Early Childhood Investment
Best Beginnings: Alaska's Early Childhood Investment
Best Beginnings: Alaska's Early Childhood Investment

This website discusses the importance of children's first five years, provides activities and resources for parents and educators to support whole child development, and identifies steps community members and businesses can take to support early child development. (Birth - K)
Rapid Resources
The Committee for Economic Development - Early Learning Policy
The Committee for Economic Development - Early Learning Policy
The Committee for Economic Development - Early Learning Policy

The Committee for Economic Development (CED) provides resources associated to high-quality early childhood education. CED collaborates with business, policymakers, and local community members to deliver high-quality early childhood education to communities that need services the most.
Rapid Resources
Investing in Early Childhood
Investing in Early Childhood
Investing in Early Childhood

First Things First explains the importance of investing in early childhood. $1 invested in early childhood yields a $16 return.