Since early in our organization’s history, Start Early has partnered across states and communities to shape, study, advocate for and enact early childhood programs, research and policies that support young children and their families. Over the past year and a half, we have engaged people from within our broad early childhood ecosystem – including from across the Educare Network – to develop our first-ever research and policy agenda that describes priorities identified by parents and practitioners. Families and staff across home visiting, Early Head Start and Head Start, child care, Early Intervention and Early Childhood Special Education programs shared insight about critical federal policies that could best support their families and could ensure all young children thrive.
Shaping Futures Together: An Early Childhood Research & Policy Agenda
The Shaping Futures Together Agenda identifies families’ and practitioners’ priorities and insights on federal policies to ensure all young children thrive.
Core Beliefs
- Family and practitioner voices must inform federal policy and related research priorities.
- Researchers, policymakers and advocates must ensure their efforts reinforce and build on one other.
- Equitable and participatory research methods must be implemented in collaboration with parents and practitioners.
- Publications, resources and tools should use communication methods that are accessible and readily reach families, practitioners and communities
