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Measuring America's Child Care Shortage

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Transforming Early Care and Education

We conduct collaborative research to deepen understanding about early care and education, and we develop innovative, research-based policy solutions on behalf of all young children, their families, and the educators who work with them.

Read Our Latest Reports

We harness the interdisciplinary resources and research of the four University of Nebraska campuses to apply the best of what is known about the benefits of early care and education in Nebraska and across the nation.

About the Institute

About the Institute

We harness the interdisciplinary resources and research of the four University of Nebraska campuses to apply the best of what is known about the benefits of early care and education in Nebraska and across the nation.

We partner with early childhood professionals to develop and deliver research-based professional development opportunities that equip educators with the tools, practices, and support they need to reach our youngest learners.

For Educators

For Educators

We partner with early childhood professionals to develop and deliver research-based professional development opportunities that equip educators with the tools, practices, and support they need to reach our youngest learners.

We work side-by-side with local superintendents, principals, early childhood educators, and community partners to connect young children and their families with quality early care, education, and support from birth onwards.

For Schools

For Schools

We work side-by-side with local superintendents, principals, early childhood educators, and community partners to connect young children and their families with quality early care, education, and support from birth onwards.

Featured Stories

Image of the cover of a book, “The Intentional Teacher: Choosing the Best Strategies for Young Children’s Learning, Third Edition.”

Behind the Book: The Buffett Institute's Amy Schmidtke on Editing 'The Intentional Teacher' Textbook

Amy Schmidtke is an experienced early educator, the director of educational practice at the Buffett Institute, and the editor of The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)'s new textbook, “The Intentional Teacher: Choosing the Best Strategies for Young Children’s Learning, Third Edition.”

Graphic with headshots of two University of Nebraska at Kearney professors, Paula Thompson (left) and Philip Lai

University of Nebraska at Kearney Professors Named Buffett Institute Community Chairs

University of Nebraska at Kearney faculty members Paula Thompson, Ed.D., and Philip Lai, Ph.D., have been appointed as the Cille and Ron Williams Community Chairs for Early Childhood Education. Both chairs include concurrent appointments as Buffett Early Childhood Institute Community Chairs.

Two young children look at and touch a book being held by an early childhood educator

Buffett Institute Awarded $1.295 Million Grant to Boost Early Literacy with Innovative Technology

With this funding, the Buffett Institute will partner with the University of Nebraska at Kearney, the Nebraska Head Start Association, and seven Head Start programs, impacting 1,377 children in urban and rural settings in the first two years of the grant.

Graphic with photos of the 2025-26 Buffett Institute Graduate Scholars

Meet the 2025-26 Buffett Institute Graduate Scholars

The Buffett Institute has selected three doctoral students representing the University of Nebraska Medical Center and University of Nebraska-Lincoln for the 2025-26 Graduate Scholars program. Since 2016, the Institute has invested more than $700,000 to support the research of doctoral students from University of Nebraska campuses related to early childhood education and development.

News & Events

Oct 08, 2025
More than 100 Scholars, Researchers Gather at Native Children’s Research Exchange Conference
Sep 09, 2025
New Interactive Map Reveals 4.2 Million Children Nationwide Lack Access to Child Care, Costing U.S. Economy up to $329 Billion
Sep 04, 2025
Thompson, Lai Named Community Chairs for Early Childhood Education at University of Nebraska at Kearney
View all news and events
13%

is the average annual return on investments for high-quality, birth-to-5 education

0-8

are the years when the brain is developing most rapidly

72%

of children in Nebraska who are under the age of 6 live in homes where all adults work

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